ARDMORE, Okla. — This year, Noble Research Institute employees volunteered their time and expertise to help three community organizations: Ardmore Soup Kitchen, Food and Resource Center of South Central Oklahoma, and The Family Shelter of Southern Oklahoma.
By the end of 2020, more than 250 employees will have participated in Noble Service, the organization’s volunteer program in which employees support their communities through volunteerism and service.
“Serving others has been a fundamental part of Noble since it was established 75 years ago,” said Steve Rhines, Noble Research Institute president and CEO. “Supporting community organizations, such as these, allows us to continue this legacy of charitable giving established by our founder Lloyd Noble.”
Ardmore Soup Kitchen provides a hot, wholesome meal to anyone in need. On average, the Soup Kitchen serves 40 to 75 people per night. For five days this fall and five days this winter, more than 75 Noble employees served hundreds of meals.
The Family Shelter of Southern Oklahoma provides safety, relief and support for anyone who has suffered physical and emotional abuse. Recently, the Shelter consolidated its operations to one location. Over the course of four days, more than 50 employees moved furniture, provided new landscaping and assembled playground equipment at the Shelter’s new facility.
The Food and Resource Center serves about 1,500 families each month, which equates to distributing about 117,000 pounds of food. Across the year, the Center will have provided more than 1.5 million pounds of food. On average, a family takes home 90 pounds of food per visit, which is equivalent to 75 meals. The Center provides food to residents in Carter, Johnston, Love and Murray counties. Throughout the year, 126 Noble employees helped shop for customers, who remained outside due to COVID-19 restrictions, so that they could provide food for their families.
“We are so grateful to have the chance to provide help to these invaluable local organizations,” said Brook Gaskamp, Noble Research Institute Noble Service program chair. “These organizations are serving and supporting our community’s most vulnerable populations. We are honored to contribute to their amazing missions.”
Noble Research Institute, LLCÂ (www.noble.org) is an independent nonprofit agricultural research organization dedicated to delivering solutions to great agricultural challenges. Headquartered in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the Noble Research Institute conducts fundamental, translational and applied research; offers no-cost consultation and education to farmers, ranchers and land managers; operates seven research and demonstration farms; and educates students of all ages about science and agriculture. The Noble Research Institute was founded by Lloyd Noble, an Oklahoma oilman and philanthropist, in 1945 as The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to advance agriculture and land stewardship.
–Noble Research Institute, LLC
For more articles out of Oklahoma, click here.