Giving back is a major component of the InterWorks philosophy. Being deliberate and encouraging employees to spend time in the community to help organizations and causes they are passionate about is equally important as growing our business.

Above: InterWorkers volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

Throughout 2022, many employees from our Oklahoma offices volunteered their time at food banks and food pantries packing meals, stocking shelves and delivering food, as there are many Oklahomans who struggle with hunger every day. Around 15% of households in Oklahoma lack resources to provide regular meals for one or more of its household members. One in four children in the state are food insecure. While the national average of food insecure households has dropped in the last 10 years, Oklahoma has remained steady. That’s why organizations like the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Our Daily Bread are so important.

Across Oklahoma, food banks in particular help to provide nearly 70 million pounds of food to the community, oftentimes serving those in need with multiple meals per day. Specifically, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma accounts for nearly 50 million pounds of food annually, distributing across much of the most populous parts of central and western Oklahoma. They call on volunteers and donations regularly to keep up with the demand of those thousands that rely on them for food assistance.

Above: InterWorkers at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, another regional food bank.

There are also hundreds of local food and resource centers across the state of Oklahoma. Many like Our Daily Bread in Stillwater, Oklahoma will serve multiple surrounding areas. These types of local organizations especially lower the gap to finding food quickly. The Our Daily Bread organization lets residents of Payne County come “shop” for free groceries, partnering with many local partners like churches, restaurants and grocery stores to keep their shelves full.

Ultimately, the goal for all of these organizations is to reduce the number of residents in the state of Oklahoma experiencing hunger.

And thankfully, many of the effects of long-term food insecurity can be reversed almost entirely with sustainable and direct efforts to help those in need. So, with continued meal gap programs and hunger charities, whether a large nonprofit or a local one, we can all envision a state where no one goes hungry and food insecurity is a thing of the past. During this holiday season and beyond, please consider making donations or serving at a food pantry to help join the fight against hunger.

Above: A few of the InterWorkers that have volunteered at their local food bank this season.