RestoreOKC On Mission To Make Food, Education More Accessible

One local non-profit is hoping you can support their mission to make food and education more accessible to the North East community on this Giving Tuesday.

"Right now we face an 18-year life discrepancy between the communities for health related disparities, we're not okay with that," said RestoreOKC Executive Director Caylee Dodson. 

Improving food options is something the non-profit is hoping will help. Since the North East community became an area that many refer to as a food desert, RestoreOKC has been working hard to bring fresh food to residents in this part of the city.

"We don't want neighbors on buses going across town we want that dollar to turn over in our community," said Dodson. 

That's why Dodson told News 9 they created an urban farm with the help of high school interns. The non-profit is also opening up a grocery store on 23rd street, which is still on track to open in 2021. The new store will provide the neighborhood with jobs and affordable produce. 

"With our kids having had effectively four days of in-person classes this year, we know that this is going to be a critical ongoing need," said Dodson.

Students and educational equity is RestoreOKC's other main focus. 2020 has been hard on students and Dodson said they never want kids to slip behind. 

"We're hoping to open another hope center that can just be focused on Northeast OKC students," said Dodson. 

But these efforts take funds, something non-profits really need in 2020. So Dodson is hoping people want to help and provide new opportunities for families in this area. 

"Every year every dollar counts," said Dodson. "This year it goes almost immediately right back out the door."

Simple Modern has partnered with RestoreOKC to match the first $20,000 donated. Click here if you want to donate.