Thursday, hundreds of families received help from a local non-profit with weekly food donations.

As we’ve heard from lots of agencies, since the pandemic hit, there’s a big increase in the number of families needing help.

During the stay-at-home orders, the line of families in need grew from hundreds to thousands.

“Tulsa police department had to come and help us with traffic because the line was over a mile long,” said Rita Gallardo.

Rita Gallardo is the Vice President of La Cosecha, a non-profit that has been donating food to families in need for five years.

She said she never imagined the number of families needing help would grow to this extent.

“It’s been consistent. There is a great need out there and we always receive phone calls from people that are needing help and there’s people that have no heater now and we’re also providing some financial assistance through the Tulsa Family Foundation,” said Gallardo.

She said everyone who helps on Thursdays is a volunteer and some Tulsa police officers also help load food or deliver donations to families who can’t make it to the pick up location. The food helps families in Tulsa and in neighboring towns, too.

“Out by Wagoner and Hulbert they had a senior center with older people. They’re like 70 to 90 and they come there for lunches,” said Diane Kempf.

Diane Kempf is a volunteer and said after helping distribute food on Thursdays, she packs up some donations to take to a group of around 50 seniors in need. She said she sees how big of an impact the boxes of food can have.

“The people out there they are so very very grateful. All of them are on social security which the way the prices went up it’s really been hard for them,” said Kempf.

If you’re interested in volunteering or donating you can contact Rita Gallardo at 918-607-4841.