I work at TV Guide in Tulsa. A friend at work, Frank Lackey and his wife, Karen own the Dinner Market in the Plaza Shopping center at 81st and Lewis. When power was lost to all of their refrigeration equipment Tuesday morning they knew they had to act fast to keep from just tossing out lots of really good food. First our co-workers at TV Guide were notified that free food (that required cooking) was available. Then hearing on the radio that Asbury was a designated Red Cross shelter and knowing the devastation it was obvious to Frank and Karin what kitchen could handle this kind of volume of food. One call to Virginia and things started rolling. "Just as soon as we get the noon meal served I'll be there in my van" was Virginia's reply.
Around 12:45 Virginia and her assistant arrived and surveying the situation. They said they could use just about everything. Asbury had expected to feed about 150 people but the number increased to 300+ as the day progressed. First the walk-in 10x15 foot refrigerator was emptied of beef, chicken, crab, eggs, milk, butter you name it, just like your home fridge only bigger, a lot bigger. Next they hit the freezers, three of them totaling over 200 cubic feet. Already prepared, but frozen, entrée's were loaded on carts and headed toward Virginia's van. In less than two hours enough food to feed five or six hundred people was headed toward good use at Asbury under the watchful and capable hands of Virginia and her staff - with a lot help from above.
The irony of it all - as Virginia's van pulled away and headed toward Asbury loaded with food for the hungry and temporarily homeless - the lights came on and power was restored at the Dinner Market. Anyone who thinks this was an accident - better think again.
Wendi Brasuell-Fisher (a PROUD member of Asbury United Methodist Church)
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