Krista Bradley at Chamber:
"Kids are Hungry"
by Renee Fite
City of Stilwell Director of Public Relations and Media
Local Family Therapist Krista Baird Bradley challenged Stilwell Chamber of Commerce members and business owners attending the monthly meeting to step up and help kids now facing food scarcity.
“We’ve been in crisis since the first of November, the majority of kids on Sooner Care did not receive Snap benefits. I can tell you it’s a real thing, that kids are going without food,” said Bradley.
A lot has happened since she returned home to Stilwell and opened Phoenix Counseling in 2014, such as marrying Daniel Bradley a few years ago.
‘We do group, individual and family counseling, offer drug and alcohol counseling and anger evaluation, and we’re in all the schools,” said Bradley.
For those who may not know, said Bradley, “You have to have a job to apply for Sooner Care.”
“You are all community leaders and caring people. You can make a meal in a bag for a family for less than $10,” said Bradley, who began taking food out of a plastic bag. “Here’s chili, crackers and Fritos, you have to have them with chili. And I’ll put candy in here too, what child doesn’t love candy?”
Krista Baird Bradley presented a program at the Stilwell Chamber of Commerce monthly November meeting about the desperate need for food donations right now.
photo: Renee Fite
Krista Baird Bradley at the Stilwell Chamber of Commerce monthly November meeting.
photo by Renee Fite
She also showed a bag with breakfast cereal and other items.
“If you buy canned goods, I recommend to choose pop top cans, as some families don’t have a can opener,” she said.
The main thing today is to talk about the kids.
“Through no fault of their own they’re hungry, and I feel we need to step up,” Bradley said.
She sees hungry kids in her office and in the schools.
“I know not all businesses have time to do this, but you can put a bag in a blessing box, donate to the food pantry, or call me and I will shop for you,” said Bradley.
Money can also be donated.
“The food pantry used to get food donations for free now they have to pay $250 to $500 per truck load,” she said.
Bradley said she considers this an emergency.
“You have to have food security, it’s a basic need illustrated in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, you have to have your basic food and shelter needs first, your psychological needs, before you can move up the pyramid to other needs such as love and self acceptance,” she said.
Also the food pantry has moved into the building with Freya Cakes, behind Mr. B’s Pizza.
“Please do anything you can to help. It keeps going there will be more than a food crises hungry tummy issue, into a psychological issue,” said Bradley.
It was mentioned Walmart has a feed the family program where someone can donate $40 to help feed a family.
Elderly need help too, many of them are on Sooner Care and not getting money this month.
Shania Merchant with Boys and Girls Club said they’re having a food drive to make sure the school pantries are all full for kids.
“People are so desperate, they’ll do whatever they must to feed their family,” Bradley said, “I know I would if I looked in my grandchild’s eyes and she was hungry.”
