Benefit dinner held for Bristow resident

Recently, Eric Baker shared a conversation with beloved Bristow resident and cheerful, friendly Walmart cashier, Karen Johnson. As they chatted, Eric learned that she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, requiring an expensive necessary treatment. Eric immediately decided that he would organize a benefit dinner to help her get the medical care she needs. On Sunday, April 25, 2021, he and other volunteers prepared and served that meal, a meal further made possible by the generous food donations of community members.

Sitting outside of the community center at Tenth and Chestnut Streets Sunday morning, the smoker toiled away, enticing the community with the aroma of the cooking bologna it contained. Inside the center, volunteers Mike and Melinda Gordon filled dessert containers with tasty treats, delicious delights they also made. Gene Hooks stood nearby, busily filling large containers with the meal: sliced bologna, bread, potato salad, and barbecue baked beans. In between trips to check the smoker outside, Eric sliced the smoked bologna for meal assembly. Each of the volunteers took turns readying the tables of bottled water, containers of barbecue sauce, plasticware, and the donation jar as well as steadying the growing stacks of filled meal and dessert containers. As they worked, the four dedicated volunteers explained how the meal was organized and made possible through community donation. Initially, Eric came up with the idea to create a benefit dinner after speaking with Karen, but he had help in organizing and ful filling it. Gene and Joy Hooks and Odell Alexander all helped in organizing the benefit. When it came to securing supplies, many in the community stepped in to furnish everything needed.

Although many people donated to help Karen, a few sizable food and material donations were provided by J’s Country Kitchen in Kellyville, Eric, and Mike and Melinda. Eric donated the use of his smoker, bread, barbecue sauce, and bologna. Mike and Melinda donated the desserts, plasticware, and water. The remaining food and disposable items were donated by others in the community as well as by J’s Country Kitchen. Gene and Joy also donated and dedicated their time to the cause. In fact, so many people contributed to the benefit that it is difficult to list each of them and their individual contributions.

Organizers did not charge a set fee for meals; instead, they requested patrons donate an amount of their choosing. The benefit raised nearly $3,800 in donations for Karen’s medical care.

Additionally, a GoFundMe fundraiser was set up to help Karen with medical expenditures. As of the time of writing, that GoFundMe has raised $8,000 to its stated goal of $7,500. Speaking of her GoFundMe fundraiser, Bristow held another recycling collection event on Saturday. Replenysh, Inc. committed to donating $250 to Karen’s GoFundMe fundraiser if Bristow collected more than one ton of recyclables, which is likely but unknown at the time of writing.

Thanks to the efforts of the community, the last weekend of April proved a successful one. Karen will be able to receive the surgery she needs. Also important, Bristow is reminded of how much it can accomplish when it works together.