Support Turley and Area at these Coming Events; Check Back for More Updates

1. Food Pantry at The Center, Tues. & Fri. 9:30 am to noon (for residents in 74126, 74130, 74073). volunteers always needed. Clothing room and computer center and library open.



2. Food Bank Mobile Food Van Day, Thurs. June 7, 11 am, at Cherokee School, volunteers come at 10 am, for those in 74126 74130 74073. Get your required voucher from the pantry before the event while they last. We are looking for donations of water and lawn chairs for our volunteers to keep them from getting over-heated. We give out 3 tons of food in just one hour; come be a part of this great event every other month. Help us provide food and meals by donating safely and easily, no paypal account needed, by clicking the button on the right of this page. Or bring checks or cash donations by the Center or our events.


3. “GROW TURLEY” Planning Meeting, Thurs, June 7, 3:30 pm, community center. working on disaster response network, incorporation of Turley as a city, economic development, and other issues.


4. Community Pancake, eggs and sausage plus, Breakfast, Turley Odd Fellows Lodge, 6227 N. Quincy Ave., Sat. June 9, 8-10 am, $5 suggested donation. Every Second Saturday.


5. Monthly Community missional Movie Night: featuring the film Vision, the radical life of the Medieval Mystic and Nun Hildegard of Bingen, Wed. June 13, 6:30 pm, free meal included.


6. Community Juneteenth Celebration and Benefit Dinner, at the Odd Fellows Lodge, 6227 N. Quincy, Sat. June 16, 5-7 pm; $5 all you care to eat; kids under 10 eat free; raise funds for the Food Pantry and GardenKitchenPark and other projects to bring people together in our community as one people. Every Third Saturday the dinner will be held for projects by A Third Place Foundation or the Odd Fellows Lodge. Juneteenth is the annual celebration of the receiving of the news of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. 


7. Volunteering at the GardenPark, 6005 N. Johnstown Ave. west of Cherokee School, Monday and Thursdays 6 pm, Saturdays 8 am. Come Saturday June 2 and meet the volunteers from across Tulsa, this time from partner Hope Church.


8. Turley Area Public Town Hall Meeting and Community Association, Tuesday June 26, 7 pm O’Brien Park Recreation Center, 6147 N. Birmingham. Last Tuesday of every month.


9. Turley Area Alliance Against Crime: Personal, Home, and Neighborhood Safety meetings last Thursdays of each month, May 31 and June 28, 6:30 pm at the community center.


10. Recovery 12 step groups. Saturdays, 5 pm and 7:30 pm, community center


11. Turley Water Board Public Meeting, LAST WORKING DAY OF MONTH 8:30 AM AT THE WATER DEPT. 6108 N. Peoria Ave.


12. Turley Fire Dept. Meetings THURSDAYS 7 PM, Fire Station, 6408 N. Peoria.

Park Dedication Words for Today: The Miracle Among The Ruins Address

Dedication Address for the Welcome Table Kitchen
GardenPark and Orchard, Sat. May 12, 10 am to 2 pm, 6005 N. Johnstown Ave. (west of Peoria Ave.)



By Ron Robinson, Executive Director


For those from whom we have inherited this land, from its first native inhabitants and later the Cherokee Nation, to those who built their homes here and who lived here, gardened here, struggled and thrived here, protecting the land, this own good place of the earth, for those in our past who have taught us much about how to live and who are still alive in our hearts, we dedicate this park, these gardens, this orchard, this community space.


For those who have given of their lives, their volunteer effort, their money, their time and attention, in so many ways these past two years since we began the drive to acquire the property, who have given of their sweat and tears and laughter in planting and playing, who have kept us in their hearts, minds, and souls no matter if they live across the street or live across the world, we gratefully dedicate this vision to them, of a place where people will continue to give back to others.


For those who live in our neighborhoods, and for those whose heart breaks for those who live in our neighborhoods, for whom this park has and will become a daily reminder of the power of hope over despair, of healthy choices in a culture that surrounds them with so much that produces illness of the mind, body, and spirit, and for whom this park will be a place of rest and community connection and the launching pad for whole new dreams and renewal projects, for all of you we dedicate this place of deep peace as a presence in your life.


Finally, for those who are not yet born, for those who live in the undiscovered country of the future, for those lives we cannot imagine, for those who will inherit this place, this moment even, from us, and who will make of it what their world requires, for them and for the mission of their lives, we dedicate this community on the hill, this bridge from us to them, this small act of justice done with great love.

Celebrate With Us as We Dedicate Our New Northside Community KitchenGardenPark and Orchard

All are invited to Come To The Dedication Celebration of The Northside Community Welcome Table KitchenGardenPark and Orchard

Sat. May 12 from 10 am to 2 pm with Public Ceremony at 11 am

6005 N. Johnstown Ave.

This has been a Major Part of our Miracle Among The Ruins project, taking a block of abandoned homes, trashed properties, overgrown weeds and immense tree damage from 2007 icestorm and transforming it into community space and food justice projects. Our food pantry routinely gives out some 11,000 pounds or more of food each month in our 74126 and nearby zipcodes; the food grown here not used by neighbors who work the beds goes into the pantry for all. We encourage residents, but also anyone who wishes to help grow healthy food for and with the poor, to be involved. Come see the transformation of the block, and have your family or civic group, or church take on a bed to grow and give away.

We are now Completing the first phase of the project to address food insecurity in far north Tulsa, and to build community connections and empower residents in neighborhoods. Site preparation nearly complete, Raised Vegetable garden beds, 20 completed another 20 ready to be built; 40 fruit tree orchard; plus berries; some of the social areas and play areas completed already as part of the second phase; Native Plant prairie trails area across the street for residents in Suburban Hills addition and the other neighborhoods as they walk the mile plus from their homes to the stores on North Peoria. New fence will be completed this coming week.

Such projects bridging diverse neighborhoods, and providing healthy food in our area where it is hard to find or afford healthy food, are needed now more than ever.

Three years ago we were in the planning stage working with OU Graduate Social Work students; two years ago we were involved in planning with OU Graduate Design Studio students, and were raising funds to try to buy the block of abandoned and trashed out homes and properties with overgrown weeds and much damage from the ice storm back in 2007;

After raising the funds and buying the property, with the help of Tulsa County and INCOG and the Turley Community Association we got the homes torn down; with the help of the Tallgrass Resource and Conservation District of the USDA, and Freedom Bank and the federal Home Loan Bank our $25,000 grant was received to begin site preparation; with help from the Indian Health Care Resource Center, and the Tulsa Community Gardening Association we began creating with our neighbors in Suburban Hills and Northgate and Turley the raised beds and tranforming the property;

Last summer with the assistance of many across the country we last year won the free 40 fruit tree orchard from the National Fruit Tree Association and Edy's Fruit Bars, and with help from many organizations such as Up With Trees we had great volunteer help on the Orchard Day. Since then we have been finishing site preparation (all done except for fence which will be erected next week), added more beds, and built new areas for people while they are in the park working. We also have our prairie trails almost done across the street from the park alongside where many residents walk on their long trek to the store and back, or shopping, etc, creating a safer and more restful area here in the 74126.

This will be the first of many new starts for community health on the northside this summer, with the expected openings soon of the Tulsa Health Dept Regional North Wellness Center on 56th St., and the OU Wayman Tisdale Specialty Clinic on 36th St.

 

There will be activities for children, tours of the property, refreshments, garden work for those who want to help or learn, and lots of information about upcoming community events and resources in our area.