"If you’re not making a difference in someone else’s life, then why are you here?" That’s the question I’leta "Sky" Young poses while appearing on KOCO-TV Oklahoma’s Channel 5 ’Food for the Holidays’ report. Helping others, especially in this time of need with many people unable to work, is so important. Even before the global health crisis, I’leta, an Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (Instructor) in AMA-411, was one of 45,000 annual volunteers for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

As a result of COVID-19, the Regional Food Bank discontinued most of the volunteer work, but I’leta found a way to continue helping others as a temporary helper. Every Friday, she voluntarily picks up boxes of food, and drives them to people who don’t have transportation. She enjoys meeting the people and developing relationships with them. Oklahoma is the fifth hungriest state in the nation, this is why it is imperative for people like I’leta to reach out as she does. She cares about fellow Oklahomans, and after having met some disabled veterans, she says, "It’s tough to see them sometimes, but they have a great spirit, and they just light up when they see that they are not forgotten."

She has a heart for helping others, and is motivated by memories of raising her daughter when funds were tight. It is said that 1 in 4 kids in Oklahoma are facing food insecurity. Currently, more than 290,000 families are enrolled in the food assistance program because they are out of work. As a result, there has been an amazing display of generosity from local churches, businesses and ordinary citizens. KOCO-TV has put out a call for donations. Every donation will be matched, so that no child goes hungry. Donors can easily text "food" to 501501 through the holidays. As a reminder, every dollar counts.