Other Options to serve 1,000 meals for "Cookies Thanksgiving"
The community truly comes together for "Cookie's Thanksgiving each year to help people affected by HIV and AIDS.
Upholding a local woman’s legacy, Oklahoma City's own Other Options, Inc., who also runs Friends Food Pantry, works together in a special partnership with Sunnyside Diner. They plan to serve 1,000 full meals, leftovers included, on Thanksgiving Day to those affected by hardship during this year’s Cookie’s Thanksgiving.
For the 19th year in a row, Other Options Inc. will serve 750 Thanksgiving meals to area families affected by HIV/AIDS, and thanks to charitable efforts by Sunnyside Diner, Other Options will also serve 250 meals to the homeless and food-insecure community of Oklahoma City on Nov. 22.
“In 1999, my mother (founder of Other Options, Cookie Arbuckle) first partnered with [Chef] Scotty Irani for our very first Thanksgiving by delivering and serving 34 meals,” said Mary Arbuckle, Other Options Executive Director. “It’s grown every year since.”
This year's partnership between Other Options and Sunnyside Diner will help serve more people in need during the holiday, something Cookie dedicated her life to achieve, said Mary.
“This will be our third year of hosting Cookie’s Thanksgiving at Sunnyside Diner. While it’s unfortunate for there to be a need, we are honored to serve our community,” said Aly Cunningham, Sunnyside Diner co-owner.
To help offset the $7,000 expense of serving a fresh, traditional Thanksgiving meal to 1,000 people, Other Options is accepting monetary donations. With the expectation of leftovers, the cost of a meal is $6.67 per person. Tax-deductible donations can be made via the Other Options website at www.otheroptionsokc.org.
Those interested in volunteering for this year’s efforts can do so by signing up online by clicking HERE.
About Other Options, Inc. OOI is committed to providing quality food, resources, services and care to the men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS as well as Prevention Education to the affected community.
The Gayly 11/17/2018 @12:43 p.m. CST.