The Community Health Foundation’s annual Meal to Heal fundraiser is set for Saturday, April 22 from 6:30 pm to 9 pm at the Summit Room in City Central located at 400 E. Central Ave. in downtown Ponca City.

This year, El Patio will be catering the event with chicken and steak fajitas, rice and beans, and chips and queso. The event will also feature frozen margaritas and beer on tap from Vortex Alley Brewing, as well as a live auction and raffle prizes.

Meal to Heal raises funds for the Foundation’s grants and scholarships. Every year, the Foundation awards almost $40,000 in scholarships to students from Kay County pursuing a degree or career in healthcare.

This year, nursing students at Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) and Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) have received $16,000 in scholarships, students in the Bachelor’s of Science program at the University Center (UC) have received $3000 in scholarships, and $4000 was awarded to a variety of specialties from pre-dentistry, pre-physical therapy, and health and sports science.

The Foundation accepts grant applications every year from organizations throughout Kay County with a focus on improving health. Grant recipients included the community medical equipment loan program at Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, NERA, the family resource program at Northern Oklahoma Youth Shelter, Survivor Resource Network, the school pantry and elementary backpack programs in Kay County through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the Blackwell Middle School Backpack food program, the United Way prescription assistance program, RSVP (a program for senior adults), Dearing House and Edwin Fair.

Tickets for the event are $50 each. Those wishing to purchase tickets can do so on the Foundation’s website at https://www.chfkayco.com/ meal-to-heal-2023.