For the past 23 years, Cookies Thanksgiving has partnered with hundreds of volunteers to prepare and deliver complete Thanksgiving meals to Oklahomans living with HIV and AIDS. As you know, 2020 – 2022 has been a unique and challenging years. To follow safety guidelines for our immune compromised clients, we will be giving them holiday boxes complete with unprepared meal kits to make their own Thanksgiving meals.

These boxes will include all the fixings and trimmings including cooked Turkey or Ham. We are working with our longtime chefs and food industry professionals who have graced us over the years to create recipes to go into each box.

We want to thank all those who have participated over the years and helped with this program. Do not despair, next year we hope to bring back our normal cooking in our kitchens and pack up food to be delivered on Thanksgiving Day as we have done for so many years. We appreciate everyone’s understanding as we do our best to keep not only our clients, but our volunteers healthy and safe.

We know how special this event is not just to our clients, but also our volunteers. This year we are asking in lieu of preparing and delivering meals, to please donate to Cookies Thanksgiving.  A simple donation of $20 to $50 or even $10 can go a long way in providing food and happiness to these families in need this holiday season. It costs Other Options roughly $7.56 per Thanksgiving meal – including leftovers! We will also be accepting canned food items such as green beans, corn, broth, cranberry sauce, etc.

Below you will find links to send your donation to Cookies Thanksgiving. We have a few limited volunteer opportunities in the links as well. If you wish to donate food items, please call the primary office to coordinate delivery at (405) 605-8020.

Again, let me personally thank you and those who have donated and contributed their time over the years. Cookies Thanksgiving has always been an incredibly special event and long tradition that helps so many of an often forgotten yet very deserving population have a special holiday meal. I appreciate your support and understanding during this unique and challenging time.

Sincerely,

Jim Everett
Pantry Manager

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What are the symptoms of monkeypox?

Monkeypox may cause fever and swollen lymph nodes. Headache, muscle and backache, chills, and exhaustion can also be present. A painful rash develops and goes through several stages including fluid and pus-filled blisters that eventually get crusty, scab over, and fall off.

Can monkeypox spread through sex?

Monkeypox can spread through any type of skin-to-skin contact with an infected person including, but not limited to, sexual contact. At this point, it is not known if monkeypox virus will spread through semen or vaginal fluids. However, the rash can look similar to symptoms of STIs such as herpes and syphilis. Mouth-to-skin contact can spread monkeypox when blisters are present. Condoms may not prevent the spread of monkeypox.

What should I do if I think I have monkeypox?

If you think you have monkeypox, contact the OSDH Epi-on-Call at 405-426-8710 for a free confidential consultation, or your healthcare provider for advice, testing, and medical care. Self-isolate away from others to protect them from infection. Cover all possible blisters (e.g., wearing clothing over the rash).

What should I do if I am a contact to a confirmed
monkeypox case?

Close contacts to someone who has monkeypox may be eligible for post-exposure vaccination to prevent illness. For close contact consultation, call the OSDH Epi-on-Call at 405-426-8710. Monitor yourself for symptoms for 21days from exposure. If symptoms develop, self-isolate away from others and contact the OSDH Epi-on-Call or your healthcare provider for advice and testing.