Collaboration

One out of every four kids in Oklahoma doesn’t always have enough food to eat.

No child should have to sit in class hungry, struggling to focus. Hunger makes it harder for students to learn, creates challenges in the classroom for students and teachers, and contributes to worse outcomes for our educational system. Yet for thousands of Oklahoma children, this is their reality.

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy State Updates The Oklahoma Legislature has adjourned from regular session, capping off an odd session filled with cross chamber disagreements and high stakes policy negotiations. With the way regular session ended, a special session could be on the horizon for the legislature. House leadership had […]

Every summer, thousands of children across Oklahoma lose access to the school meals they depend on. But every year, communities across the state step up to meet that need. Schools, tribes, nonprofits, and local leaders come together with one shared mission: ensuring no child goes hungry when school is out.

At Hunger Free Oklahoma, we are proud to support and connect with this work—helping partners share resources, strengthen relationships, and build systems that make summer meals more accessible for families across the state.

There’s a story surfacing when public benefits enter the conversation. It’s a familiar one: skepticism and lingering questions about SNAP fraud. It travels quickly. Faster than data. Faster than lived experiences. Faster than the truth.

In fact, it’s become a widely accepted narrative. But when we slow down and actually look at the evidence, a very different picture comes into focus.

by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist, and Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy State Updates Between candidate filing, breakneck budget negotiations, and the June primary elections rapidly approaching, policy in Oklahoma is keeping us on our toes! If you want to keep up, make sure you’re signed up for […]

4/1/26 – Tulsa, OK: Hunger Free Oklahoma’s 2026 Food is Medicine Landscape Analysis highlights health improvements, access gaps, and opportunities to expand nutrition-based healthcare programs across Oklahoma.

“A hungry kid cannot learn, but a well-supported student, with quality meal service and quality instruction, will thrive. In Elk City, Oklahoma, we have the numbers to prove it!”

That conviction from Superintendent Mike Sparks sits at the heart of the transformation underway at Elk City Public Schools. Superintendent Sparks, recently named the 2025 OASA District 12 Superintendent of the Year, attributes the district’s academic progress to a powerful combination: strengthened child nutrition programs paired with data-driven instruction.

by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist, and Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy State Updates Legislative session is quickly springing forward. Between committee deadlines, Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol, and some surprising changes to the upcoming Congressional midterm elections, there’s a lot to cover. Below is an updated list […]

Most of the work of getting produce into grocery stores, restaurants, and homes is done by immigrants. Immigrants are the foundation of the U.S. agriculture system, not only as workers but also as consumers. Yet many are left vulnerable to exploitation, poverty, and food insecurity despite everything they contribute to our agricultural system and economy.

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy State Updates The 2026 Oklahoma legislative session is off to a busy start. Below is a list of the top bills we are tracking this session. As you might notice, this list is significantly longer compared to previous sessions. This demonstrates the legislature’s increased interest […]

1/26/26 – Tulsa, OK: Hunger Free Oklahoma has consistently championed the efficient and fair administration of government programs that support long-term economic stability for Oklahomans. We support Governor Stitt’s calls for increased transparency, reduced bureaucracy, and thoughtful mitigation of benefit cliffs to improve program operations.

One day into my fellowship with The Congressional Hunger Center, the federal government shut down. What seemed like an inconvenience that might last a few days, or at worst, a couple of weeks, dragged on throughout my entire first month in the anti-hunger, anti-poverty policy space.

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist Welcome to 2026! Our team is rested and ready to tackle hunger and food policy in the new year. If you’re new to Capitol Insider, we share updates on news and policy changes at the state, federal, and administrative levels that touch on […]

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist We wish you glad tidings in our final edition of Capitol Insider 2025! This year has been eventful, and we appreciate that you have read along through this constantly changing policy environment. We’re looking forward to […]

Dear Supporters and Partners,
This year reminded us of what it means to show up for our communities and that the path to success is not always a straight line. Together, with partners across Oklahoma, we expanded access to proven programs, responded to urgent challenges, and continued building the systems that help families thrive. We also advocated against sweeping changes to SNAP and the food safety net. While we lessened the damage, we could not stop it all.

Most Americans picture service members as resilient and self-sufficient — and they are. But resilience doesn’t erase the reality that many service members and military families struggle to put food on the table. Food insecurity in the force is not just a social or family welfare issue; it’s a readiness issue that affects health, performance, retention, and ultimately the mission.

As nonprofits or community advocates, we have all long faced tight budgets and heavy workloads, leading us to work beyond max capacity and sometimes to even push past our skill sets. This culture of urgency and make-do leaves no time to pause and reflect, leading to short-term solutions generally winning out over long-term improvements.

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist Welcome to November’s edition of Capitol Insider. Frankly, we’re not sure where to begin; the policy environment over this past month has been ever-changing and highly volatile. As we approach the holiday season, we hope you’re […]

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Over the past several weeks, our community has weathered challenges that tested the resilience of the people we serve, the dedication of our staff, and the strength of the entire nonprofit food response network. I want to take a moment to share where things stand, and to express our deep gratitude for your partnership.

Every summer, thousands of kids across Oklahoma lose access to the school meals they rely on. Every summer, organizations, tribes, schools, and community leaders step up to make sure families don’t face seasonal hunger. At Hunger Free Oklahoma, we’re proud to be part of this team—helping build connections, share resources, and create spaces where partners can learn from each other. Our goal is to make it easy for more partners to engage in Summer Meals opportunities.

11/13/2025 – Tulsa, OK: Hunger Free Oklahoma welcomes the end of the federal government shutdown and the restoration of critical SNAP benefits. We hope that in the next day or two, full SNAP benefits will be distributed in Oklahoma to help our friends and neighbors put food on the table, support jobs up and down the supply chain, and help local economies thrive.

10/21/2025 – Tulsa, OK: Today’s news about a disruption in SNAP benefits is a painful blow for so many of our friends, neighbors, and families who rely on this support. We stand with them and feel the urgency of the impact this decision will have.

10/21/2025 – Tulsa, OK: Today’s news about a disruption in SNAP benefits is a painful blow for so many of our friends, neighbors, and families who rely on this support. We stand with them and feel the urgency of the impact this decision will have.

When school cafeterias close for the summer, many families face an increased challenge to keep nutritious food on the table. That’s where the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (SEBT) program comes in – a federal initiative that provides grocery benefits to eligible families with school-aged children during the summer months.