As record inflation causes food prices to skyrocket, food pantries are needed more than ever by those struggling to make ends meet. Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma has introduced a new concept for giving food to the hungry in the Tulsa area. The Market at Catholic Charities opened in April after a $5 million, year-long renovation. The Market allows those in need of food to “shop” for the healthy foods they will enjoy. It looks like a grocery store, but no money changes hands.

Dignity is at the forefront of The Market at Catholic Charities

As record inflation causes food prices to skyrocket, food pantries are needed more than ever by those struggling to make ends meet. Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma has introduced a new concept for giving food to the hungry in the Tulsa area. The Market at Catholic Charities opened in April after a $5 million, year-long renovation. The Market allows those in need of food to “shop” for the healthy foods they will enjoy. It looks like a grocery store, but no money changes hands.

At a ribbon cutting and blessing on April 11th, more than two hundred people came to see what the fuss was all about. Dcn. Kevin Sartorius welcomed Mayor GT Bynum, Chamber President Mike Neal, Bishop Konderla and many board members, volunteers and supporters as they toured the new facilities and enjoyed lunch prepared by Chef Michael Fusco.

High praise from Mayor Bynum

Mayor Bynum raved about the impact Catholic Charities has in the community. “Following the 2019 flood, they helped 1,200 families find shelter. Following the start of the global pandemic in 2020, they put 18 million pounds of food on the tables of families in need. In 2021, President Biden’s top advisor on Afghan refugees came to Tulsa and told me their work was the model for the nation. And now Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma is investing in yet another way to help those in need with their new food market. So grateful for Deacon Kevin Sartorius and his team who are doing so much important work in our community!”

More than just cosmetic upgrades

As the largest provider of food to individuals in need in the state of Oklahoma, Catholic Charities badly needed to upgrade the space used for their food program. The new facility has three times the warehouse space than what Catholic Charities had before, a new loading dock, and semi-size freezer and cooler spaces. A new commercial kitchen will be the home of a new culinary training program and will be a place where ready-made meals are made for clients to choose in The Market.

In order to add space to the food program, Catholic Charities’ campus needed more than just the renovation of one building. A new maintenance building was built to house the facilities crew and a garage with two lifts for the monthly car care clinic. Trucks delivering food may now exit the campus without turning around in a tight space thanks to a new road. A new parking lot will be finished in the coming weeks, adding 75 much-need parking spaces to the crowded Tulsa campus.

Dignity is the goal

“The Market at Catholic Charities is ultimately about the dignity of the person in need,” said Dcn. Kevin Sartorius, CEO of Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma. “Thanks to our partnerships in the community, we have an abundance of fresh produce, dairy, eggs, meat…way more than non-perishable foods to give away. By allowing people to choose what they like, it helps them feel good about what they put on the table for their families, and it helps us reduce food waste from giving people food items they won’t eat.”

“So far, everyone seems to be very happy,” said Tim Neuman, Director of Client Food Services in Tulsa. “They love being able to choose their own groceries.”

Pandemic brings necessary change for the better

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Catholic Charities were forced to switch to a drive-through food pantry model. Instead of serving 75 to 100 families per day, they quickly began seeing as many as 500 families per day in Tulsa alone. Participation in the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program increased their footprint for food distribution across Eastern Oklahoma, bringing the total to 29 of 31 counties in the diocese receiving services through Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma.

Funding for The Market included two new refrigerated box trucks, increasing the capacity to deliver food to rural areas of Eastern Oklahoma. Catholic Charities Mary Martha Outreach in Bartlesville is adding a new large cooler and rack system to allow for more food storage for the entire organization.

“Our goal is to provide services in all 31 counties of our diocese,” says MaryLynn Lufkin, Director of Eastern Oklahoma Outreach and Disaster Outreach. “We are adding mobile food pantry locations and increasing our capacity to feed more people in rural areas.”

Training tomorrow’s restaurant workers while serving those in need

Chef Michael Fusco, Manager of Catholic Charities’ Kitchen and Garden Ministries, will soon offer a culinary training program within the commercial kitchen in The Market. The program will train people in essential skills for food service as assistant chefs, waiters, and line cooks with upward career mobility.

Food services throughout Tulsa are facing staffing issues. “We’ve all seen the signs,” Chef Michael says, “Going into restaurants and the dining room is closed, help wanted signs, to-go food only, not enough staff…”

While learning essential kitchen skills, trainees will prepare ready-made meals for clients who are shopping in The Market.

The first year of this new program was funded by the generosity of our guests at Cooking Up Compassion and a matching gift of $150,000!

Volunteers are an essential part of Catholic Charities

Neuman stressed that the most critical need at The Market at Catholic Charities is volunteers. “Right now, we are only open Monday through Friday during the daytime hours,” he explained. “With enough volunteers, we will be able to add evening and weekend hours for those who cannot come during the day.”

Volunteers at The Market assist shoppers in the aisles by explaining the process for shopping and help stock shelves. Those interested in volunteering may visit cceok.org/volunteer for more information.

Dignity is at the forefront of The Market at Catholic Charities | EOC Magazine