Impactful Women of the 918: Tina Parkhill

Before becoming CEO of Food on the Move, Tina Parkhill supported the organization as a donor. Its mission and collaborative approach to improving food access made joining the organization a natural next step in her career.

Food on the Move works to remove barriers to fresh, nutritious food while providing resources that support families’ long-term health and stability. Parkhill says the work has shown her how deeply food is connected to other parts of a family’s life.

“Access to nutritious food affects a child’s ability to learn, a parent’s ability to work and a family’s overall health and well-being,” she says.

That impact became especially clear during last year’s lapse in SNAP benefits, when Food on the Move mobilized to serve more than 1,900 families. Parkhill says watching staff, volunteers and community partners respond reinforced her belief in the power of collaboration.

She’s also seen how food creates connection, including through a partnership with Girl Scouts Beyond Bars that provides holiday food boxes to families with an incarcerated parent.

Outside of Food on the Move, Parkhill serves on the boards of Family & Children’s Services, Hope Community Services and Folds of Honor in Oklahoma.

“Food is about so much more than what’s on the table,” Parkhill says. “It’s about connections, stability and showing families they have a community that cares.”

Q&A with Tina Parkhill

Can you tell us about your career journey and what led you to Food on the Move?

Although most of my professional career has been in the for-profit sector, I’ve always been passionate about giving back to the community. Before joining Food on the Move, I supported the organization as a donor, regularly contributing to its Rhythm & Roots fundraiser that helped provide bags of food to families in need. That support gave me an early connection to the organization’s mission and the impact it was making in our community. Serving others has been a constant throughout my career, and I’ve sought opportunities to make a meaningful difference through leadership and community engagement.

Joining Food on the Move as the CEO felt like a natural next step because its mission aligns so closely with my passion for improving lives through collaboration, innovation and community partnerships. I believe some of our greatest impact happens when organizations work together, not in silos, and I’m passionate about building partnerships that help us reach more families and strengthen our community. I was especially inspired by Food on the Move’s approach to mobilizing access to healthy, nutritious food in ways that create lasting change for the families we serve.

For readers who may not be familiar with Food on the Move, can you briefly describe its mission and the impact it’s making in our community?

Food on the Move is dedicated to removing barriers that prevent families from accessing fresh, nutritious food while providing education and resources that support long-term health and stability. Through monthly Community Food & Resource Festivals, pop-up food distributions, our Urban Farm, Community Gardens and educational programs, we’re working to make healthy food more accessible while helping families build a stronger future.

Our mission goes beyond providing food. We believe that when communities invest in food access, they are investing in healthier neighborhoods, stronger local economies and brighter futures. Food is more than nourishment; it is a foundation for thriving families, resilient communities and lasting opportunity.

What has been one of the most meaningful moments or accomplishments during your time with Food on the Move?

One of the most meaningful accomplishments has been watching our team respond when our community needed us most. During last year’s lapse in SNAP benefits, we mobilized quickly to help fill the gap, serving more than 1,900 families so they could keep food on the table. Seeing our staff, volunteers and community partners come together so seamlessly reminded me just how powerful collaboration can be.

I’m also incredibly proud that our first Movers & Shakers Gala since I became CEO became the most successful in the organization’s history. It was a reflection of our community’s belief in Food on the Move and the incredible support behind our mission. Those accomplishments represent far more than numbers. They mean more families served, stronger partnerships and greater opportunities to create lasting impact.

Food is about so much more than nutrition. What have you learned about the role food plays in building healthier families and stronger communities?

I’ve learned that food is deeply connected to dignity, opportunity and human connection. Access to nutritious food affects a child’s ability to learn, a parent’s ability to work and a family’s overall health and well-being. In Oklahoma, 1 in 4 children live in food-insecure households, which is why partnering with local schools to help ensure students have food during school breaks is such an important part of our work.

I’ve also seen how food brings people together in meaningful ways. Through our partnership with Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, we’ve been able to provide holiday food boxes to families, creating opportunities for girls who have a parent who is incarcerated to share a meal and spend time with their loved ones during the holidays. Moments like those remind me that food is about so much more than what’s on the table. It’s about connections, stability and showing families they have a community that cares.

Outside of Food on the Move, are there organizations, volunteer work or community causes that are especially meaningful to you?

Giving back has always been an important part of my life, and I value opportunities to support organizations that strengthen our community in different ways. I’m proud to serve on the boards of Family & Children’s Services and Hope Community Services, as well as the Oklahoma Board of Directors for Folds of Honor. While each organization has a different mission, they all share a commitment to helping people overcome barriers and build stronger futures.

Being involved with these organizations continually inspires me. They remind me that lasting change happens when people come together around a shared purpose, and I’m grateful to support work that promotes health, education, stability and opportunity for Oklahoma families.