Some Oklahomans are struggling to keep their kitchens stocked as the pandemic continues across the country but many will have a chance to pick up free Thanksgiving baskets starting on Saturday.

John 3:16 Mission and North Peoria Church of Christ are lightening the load by loading up people's cars with a Thanksgiving basket. The North Peoria Church of Christ is providing 200 Baskets on Saturday to families in need from 11 to 1.

Reverend Steve Whitaker with John 3:16 Mission says food insecurity has skyrocketed IN 2020 because people have contracted COVID-19, while others have lost their jobs and face eviction. He says they're trying to collect 5,000 turkeys and fixings. That's about 44 tons of food to fill the Thanksgiving baskets they're handing out to thousands of families.

The Mission will also serve a sit-down Thanksgiving Banquet for the Homeless on Tuesday night. They're accepting donations of frozen turkeys and nonperishable food items right here, as well as Under the Sun Garden Centers, and select Walmart Neighborhood Markets in the Tulsa Metro.

"They're very gracious and very sweet and very thankful. We get a lot of tears and a lot of thanks. And it's a very poignant, very powerful program to help remediate hunger right here in Tulsa," says Rev. Whitaker.

The baskets will be distributed Monday through Wednesday from 9 to 3 at John 3:16 Mission's Family and Youth Center.