Groups plan large food, furnishings giveaway to kick off Black History Month

A local church will host a food and furnishings giveaway to kick off Black History Month.

The Rev. Derrick Scobey said the Mega Community Distribution set for 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 3600 N Kelley, may well be the largest such effort the church has ever had in partnership with the humanitarian aid organization World Vision.

Scobey said Saturday's distribution will kick off Black History Month and also honor the life and legacy of The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Oklahoma's own civil rights icon Clara Luper. He said the giveaway effort is being held in collaboration with the Oklahoma NAACP, led by Anthony Douglass. Scobey, who is Ebenezer's senior pastor, said three large truckloads of products, including furniture, air fryers, lawn mowers, diapers and heaters, will be distributed.

He said other groups joining the effort include St. Luke's United Methodist Church, which will provide food from the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma that will be distributed.

He said a truckload of Frito Lay products from Mini Max also will be given out and Best Friends of Pets will be bringing pet food for distribution. The minister said Hobby Lobby is providing the trucks and drivers to help move the products to the church.

Serving the community

Scobey said, in keeping with the theme, members of Black fraternities, sororities and groups including the Links, Black Excellence Network and other organizations will be serving as distribution volunteers.

DesJean Jones, executive director of Opportunities Industrialization Center, known as OIC, said representatives from the center planned to serve as volunteers during the distribution effort, along with members of her sorority group, the Oklahoma Sooner city Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

"The work that World Vision is doing in communities where they serve is so important, especially now because people are hurting in almost every area of need," Jones said.

Scobey said volunteers are still needed, particularly on Friday to help with staging and sorting for the distribution. He said all are welcome to come and serve and be served.

For more information or an online signup link for volunteers, go to the church's Facebook page.