Our food pantry is just one part of The R.E.M. (Resources, Entrepreneurial, Mercantile) which is a ministry of the Southern Baptist Church of Rush Springs. The R.E.M.'s ministry includes several free-to-the-public resources beyond the food pantry including a large clothing closet, household items such as dishes, baby equipment, bedding and a limited supply of baby and adult diapers. The REM also provides free furniture for households who have experienced a fire. Also, the REM assists with emergency needs such as a family's utility bill or a traveler's empty gas tank.
Once monthly REM ministry provides to a group outside of the Rush Springs area. Purses are filled with personal items and given to No Boundaries International in OKC who then give the purses to women living in hard places.
All of the REM ministries are funded from several sources located at the REM. The retail shop sells donated miscellaneous items such as books, dishes, collectables, jewelry etc. It also sells local people's handmade goods on consignment. Used furniture (either donated or sourced from estate sales) is also sold. We also receive food donations and monetary donations. All moneys collected through the REM is used to finance it's ministries (including the food pantry) and pay the REM's utility bills. All workers are unpaid volunteers.
The REM food pantry is giving out 75 to 112 food bags each week- double what we were providing a year ago. One bag is meant to feed 1 to 4 people for one day. The more people in a household, the more bags they receive.
During the month of October 2023, 339 bags were given out to residents of the Rush Springs zip code, providing food for 322 individuals, in 118 households. 25% were 18 and under, 38% were 19-59, 37% were 60 and older. Some came every week; some came only one or two weeks. All but a small handful of our clients qualify as low income and a great many of the adults are disabled.
Fresh produce is a treat. It makes everyone happy. We try to get produce once a month from the Regional Food Bank but it is not always available and the quality is very unpredictable. Also, it comes with the rest of the RFBO order so we are extremely cramped for cool space and must give it out immediately. A different source of produce which we could get at the first part of the month would be so very welcome.
Our clients are happy when we get donations of fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats, hot dogs, deer, etc. Our clients are grateful for any and all.
One week a month we include a choice of an assortment of items such as: shampoo, soap, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry soap, batteries, toothbrushes, hand lotion. Or anything we can get that could be a household need. Every bit of it is gone by the end of day. The clients look forward to those items as much as they do the food.
This listing was last updated Dec 1, 2023
Want an email when this food pantry updates their hours or other information?
Outside of the open hours, we need a phone call so we can plan to be there to receive your donation. If you are not dropping off your donation, a volunteer may be available to come after it if it isn't too far.
The REM is open 10AM-4PM on Wed, Thurs, Friday and Sat. 10AM-2PM.
The back door is best for deliveries, but give us a call so we can open the door for you.
There is no REM phone. Call Sandy 405-320-0155 or Lois 405-370-9907
Our food pantry day is every Thursday 10AM-2PM, so Wednesdays 10AM-4PM or Thursdays before 10AM would be best for deliveries of garden produce to our location so it could be given away quickly. Gardeners can call if they need other hours and we will try our best to accommodate.
Outside of the open hours, we need a phone call so we can plan to be there to receive your donation.
If you are not dropping off your donation, a volunteer may be available to come after it if it isn't too far.
ProducePedia
ProducePedia is a free resource that covers the types of fresh produce that can be delivered to food pantries. Each entry includes information on color, taste, and possible uses. People unfamiliar with the vegetable or fruit will learn how to use it, and those who are familiar with it still might learn a fun fact or two!
The Cooperative Extension sites have a wealth of information for any backyard gardener. Once you go to the site (each one if very different from the others) look for a link for “homes and gardens”, “landscape”, “consumer horticulture”, etc. to find information on improving your backyard garden. Neighboring state sites may offer information your own state’s site lacks.
