Last Updated on November 12, 2023, 8:11 PM | Published: November 12, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — A collaboration between New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in OKC and True Sky Credit Union is taking root in Oklahoma City’s Eastside.
The opening of a food pantry operation Monday in the community room of the new True Sky Credit Union branch at NE 23rd and Missouri is led by New Bethel members with True Sky employees also volunteering.
In one of the most unusual collaborations for a credit union, New Bethel is leasing the land for the entire branch for 75 years to True Sky for a dollar.
True Sky built the building and is leasing the large, fully-equipped community room to the church for over 75 years for a dollar.
Free Press has covered the development of the project from the beginning:
And, we covered the ribbon-cutting which yielded some significant comments from the pastor:
When we interviewed Pastor James Greenwood after the ribbon cutting he referred to the pawn shops and quick cash loan places nearby and said that financial literacy and planning were something they intend for True Sky to help them with as a long-term measure to achieve financial health of their members and the wider community.
‘Our battlefield’
But, the opening of the pantry — which will open at regular intervals — is aimed at helping residents of the area with more direct and immediate needs for food while gaining more financial independence.
And at least one church member sees the fight against systemic poverty as a type of “war.”
“This is our battlefield,” said Sheila Douglass, one of the many involved members at New Bethel. For her, advocacy of community members and opposition to other for-profit financial interests is no less serious than being in combat.
But, it’s about helping people to learn how to get beyond the systemic problems that continue to dog them.
“We don’t want to just give a man a fish. We want to teach them how to fish and help this to be a holistic project and True Sky has allowed us to do that,” Douglass told Free Press.
Another New Bethel church member was busy sorting out food staples about to be handed out (feature photo) and took a minute to visit with us about their views.
“The collaboration has been totally awesome,” said Susie Davis about the connection between True Sky and New Bethel. “Because New Bethel has always wanted this food pantry. And we always wanted to be able to serve the community, but we needed to get a start on it. So with True Sky coming along, saying, hey, we can do this. And we can do that. And we went, oh, yeah. That’s what we need.”
Helping organizations take part
In addition to providing goods to those who were in immediate need, there were other organizations there to offer more long-term connections to health and food.
The Regional Food Bank had staff there to process applications for food assistance and nutrition-promoting organizations.
Finding adequate healthcare is a challenge for those with low income, especially those of retirement age. Two clinics that specialize in treating those who are on Medicare or other public assistance were also present to answer questions and make connections with people in need.
For more information about food pantry hours and the particulars about receiving aid call New Bethel Baptist Church at (405) 427-2171 or visit their Facebook page.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.
