Kendall-Whittier Inc

HOME-GROWN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION INCORPORATING SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS THROUGH FOOD SECURITY, NUTRITIONAL HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING.

EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRYOUR OVERALL OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR NEIGHBORS' LIVES BY MEETING THEIR NEEDS FOR HEALTHY EMERGENCY FOOD SERVICES. OUR EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY (EFP) HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION SINCE 2000 AND PROVIDES, AT NO COST, SEVEN DAYS' WORTH OF FOOD FOR A FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL ONE EACH MONTH. WE PROTECT THE SECURITY OF OUR DONATED SPACE, OUR FRUGAL BUDGET, AND THE DIGNITY OF OUR CLIENTS BY UTILIZING CAREFULLY SCREENED VOLUNTEERS FOR HOME DELIVERIES. DURING OUR 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR WE SERVED 885 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS, AND 1217 DUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS. OF THESE DUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS, 36% WERE CHILDREN, 20% WERE SENIORS, AND AN ESTIMATED 65% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDED AT LEAST ONE DISABLED ADULT. OUR PANTRY IS CLEAN, ORGANIZED AND EFFICIENT. OUR TEAM WORKS WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CLIENTS RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER SERVICES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT CAN HELP THEM AVOID A FUTURE NEED FOR EMERGENCY FOOD.OUR OBJECTIVES FOR THE EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY FOR OUR 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR ARE TO: PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY FOOD IN A TIMELY MANNER. COMMUNICATE TO RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE. INCREASE OUR OUTREACH TO HISPANIC FAMILIES.

COMMUNITY GARDENS PROGRAMSGROW TEACHING GARDEN (GARDENING TO REACH OUT AND WELCOME)COMMUNITY GARDENS PROGRAMSGROW TEACHING GARDEN (GARDENING TO REACH OUT AND WELCOME)OUR GROW TEACHING GARDEN IS PRIMARILY AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN AS WELL AS STUDENTS FROM TULSA EDUCARE AND KENDALL WHITTIER ELEMENTARY. WE SERVE AND EDUCATE CHILDREN BY PROVIDING HANDS-ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF THE STEM CONCEPTS THEY ARE STUDYING IN SCHOOL. OUR GARDEN OPERATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN OUR FOUR SEASON CLIMATE WHICH ACCOMMODATES GROWING A WIDE VARIETY OF ORGANIC PRODUCE. FOOD IS HARVESTED AND PREPARED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS TO BEST EXPLORE THE FLAVORS OF OUR CROPS. THE GARDEN PROVIDES INSIGHT TO THE PHYSICAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND CULTURAL WORLD AND HOW HUMANS INTERCONNECT. CHILDREN WITNESS THE PROCESS OF THOUGHTFUL COMPOSTING WHICH TURNS WHAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED TRASH INTO VALUABLE AND HEALTHY SOIL. OUR GROW GARDEN IS WELL-LOVED AND HAS A CREATIVE, DEDICATED GARDEN COORDINATOR. WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED COLLABORATION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD EDUCARE CENTER. OUR GOAL IS TO SERVE EVEN MORE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, PRIMARILY CHILDREN. WE SEEK TO INSTILL IN THEM A SENSE OF WELL-BEING AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND PRIDE THAT COMES FROM SEEING A TASK THROUGH FROM BEGINNING TO END. WE ALSO STRIVE TO FIND WAYS FOR ALL KENDALL WHITTIER RESIDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH OUR GARDENS AND FOR GARDENERS TO BUILD A SHARED SENSE OF COMMUNITY. OVERALL, IN OUR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2023, THE GROW GARDEN SERVED 327 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN AND 181 UNDUPLICATED ADULTS. OUR OBJECTIVES FOR THE GROW TEACHING GARDEN FOR OUR 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR ARE TO: CONTINUE TO SERVE THE CHILDREN WHO COME TO OUR GARDEN, FURTHERING THEIR HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND EXPANDING THEIR APPRECIATION OF EATING NUTRITIOUS AND HEALTHFUL FOOD. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WE SERVE. INCREASE OUR OUTREACH TO NEIGHBORS BY WELCOMING THEM INTO THE GARDEN TO ENJOY ITS BEAUTY AND BY PROVIDING THEM WITH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. PROMOTE THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF GARDENING, ESPECIALLY IN AN URBAN AREA.TIPTON COMMUNITY GARDEN OUR TIPTON COMMUNITY GARDEN (TCG) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015 ON DONATED LAND. IN 2020 THE SPACE WAS RENOVATED TO INCORPORATE COMMUNITY ART, ADDITIONAL GARDEN BEDS, AND A FULLY-STOCKED SHED, WHICH HAS ATTRACTED MANY NEW NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. TCG'S PROGRAM INTEGRATES GARDENING ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION WITH OTHER TOPICS, LIKE NUTRITION AND COOKING, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. THE GARDEN NOW HAS A DEDICATED GARDEN COORDINATOR THAT PARTNERS WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN AND RUN THE GARDEN.. IN THE 22-23 FY WE PROVIDED 59 PUBLIC GARDEN TOURS AND ENGAGED 43 VOLUNTEERS AND 43 GARDENERS, WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN AND ADULTS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, TCG HAS BECOME A VITAL PART OF THE KENDALL WHITTIER NEIGHBORHOOD AND A BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER, CONNECT, LEARN AND GROW.OUR OBJECTIVES FOR THE TIPTON COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR OUR 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR ARE TO: PROMOTE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARDENING, ESPECIALLY IN AN URBAN AREA. CREATE EVENTS THAT WILL DRAW ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE GARDEN.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACHOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH EFFORTS AT KENDALL-WHITTIER AND SEQUOYAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT BAG PROGRAM. IN DECEMBER 2022, OUR HOLIDAY GIFT BAGS PROGRAM PROVIDED NUTRITIOUS FOOD ITEMS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1170 STUDENTS. THE GIFT BAGS HELP FAMILIES STRETCH THEIR FOOD DOLLARS DURING WINTER BREAK WHEN CHILDREN AREN'T ABLE TO EAT BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT SCHOOL.