January Birthday Celebrations

Tulsa Lawyers Come Together to Help Those in Need

This year marked the 12th year that Tulsa area lawyers came together to provide holiday meals to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford one. Lawyers Fighting Hunger is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides food for families to make holiday meals for both Thanksgiving and Easter. A collection of lawyers, their families, and law offices assembled 1,000 bags of food made up of: turkey, fresh potatoes, gravy, vegetables, stuffing mixes, and more to make a Thanksgiving meal. Fifty volunteers assembled these bags and then passed them on to Iron Gate Tulsa for distribution throughout the week and a variety of other partner agencies to deliver to their respective constituencies (the VA, Parkside Hospital, EduRec, Life Senior Services, Dayspring Villa, Aruba, Cura for the World, Emergency Infant Services, and more).

Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma aiding in delivery of food.

In previous years, this event looked a little different. Individuals would congregate in downtown Tulsa as volunteers aided them in assembling their own bags. However, COVID protocols changed the look of this event. The bags were pre-assembled, and Iron Gate held a drive-through for families to drive by and pick up their groceries, leading to far less exposure. Lawyers Fighting Hunger operates off donations from local law firms and other businesses. Their Platinum donors include Gorospe Law, Graves McLain, and Sherwood McCormick & Robert. The Gold donors include Brewster & De Angelis, Boettcher Devinney Ingle Wicker, Laizure Law, Richardson Richardson Boudrauex, Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis.

Hugh Robert along with Brooke Dormont and her family. Brooke is the owner of Bare Aesthetics, one of the sponsors of Lawyers Fighing Hunger. She and her family volunteer each year.

Lawyers Fighting Hunger started in 2009 when many agencies dedicated to feeding the hungry had their funding cut. This financial hit came right before Thanksgiving, and Tulsa area lawyers stepped up to fill the gap. They raised money to purchase turkeys for families to have on Thanksgiving. In 2010, Hugh M. Robert of Sherwood, McCormick & Robert decided to make the event even more significant. As the need to feed the hungry in Oklahoma grew, he joined with lawyers in Oklahoma City and Norman to create Lawyers Fighting Hunger.

According to Feeding America, 583,570 people are facing hunger in Oklahoma. However, 1,000 Tulsa families didn't face this on Thanksgiving Day, thanks to Lawyers Fighting Hunger.