Hunger Free Oklahoma Update

Expand Afterschool Meals and End Childhood Hunger in Oklahoma
Hunger doesn’t end when the school bell rings. For thousands of Oklahoma children, afterschool meal programs provide more than just nourishment—they offer stability, academic support, and a safe place to go. The 2024 Afterschool Meals Report highlights Oklahoma’s progress in serving afterschool meals and the work still needed to ensure every child has access to nutritious food beyond the school day.
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Libraries Leading the Way in the Fight Against Hunger
In March 2025, Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) had the pleasure of joining the Oklahoma Library Association (OLA) annual conference in Norman. This two-day event was a fantastic opportunity to engage with library staff from public, school-based, and university libraries about addressing hunger in local communities.
Read more »Congress Should Protect Essential Safety Net Programs Amid Budget Deliberations
As Congress engages in critical budget resolution discussions, we urge lawmakers to safeguard essential safety net programs that serve as lifelines for hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans. Proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and other vital services threaten not only the well-being of vulnerable populations, but also Oklahoma’s economic stability and health.
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Adapting Without Wavering: Our Promise to Oklahoma
We’re taking a moment to breathe now that the federal grant freeze has been rescinded. While we have weathered this moment of confusion and chaos, we are mindful that there will continue to be rapid changes and shifts in information on all sorts of issues that impact our work, our partners’ work, or the communities and people we seek to support.
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Celebrating CACFP Week and the Release of Hunger Free Oklahoma’s Afterschool Meals Report
March is a month of growth, renewal, and a renewed focus on ensuring our communities have access to nutritious meals. That’s why we’re so excited to celebrate National CACFP Week March 16-22, and to announce the release of our highly anticipated Afterschool Meals Report!
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Resilient Roots: The Legacy and Future of Black Farmers in Oklahoma
Forty acres and a mule. That was the promise made by General William Sherman to former enslaved Africans during the Civil War as a form of reparations for their centuries of forced labor. This promise was soon rescinded by President Andrew Johnson. However, just as Black people had emancipated themselves from slavery, they took the fate of their free futures into their own hands. No group emphasized this liberatory spirit more than the Black people who raced to Oklahoma to claim land after the Civil War, built strong communities in this new land, and blazed a path forward for Black economic and political autonomy, including the freedom to feed themselves.
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Summer Meals Regional Convenings to Kick Off January 23
HFO will hold three Summer Meals Regional Convenings in partnership with the Childhood Food Security Coalition (CFSC). This the second year of convenings designed to connect community organizations wanting to become summer meal sites or sponsors with the resources they need to be ready to serve our state’s children. Previously, Hunger Free Oklahoma hosted an annual kickoff, but the smaller convenings help bring regional organizations together to create more localized impact. There will be space for 80 anti-hunger professionals at each convening.
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SNAP is More Than Food Security: Advocating for Greater Access
There are many misconceptions and stigmas surrounding public assistance and federal nutrition programs, often perpetuated by the media and politicians, as well as by everyday people. My parents, hardworking and staunchly independent, made sacrifices to ensure our family’s basic needs were met, a privilege for which I am grateful.
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SNAP Benefits: Protecting Your Lifeline
SNAP theft and fraud are on the rise. Learn how to protect your SNAP funds and report theft below.
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Wrapping Up the Hungry for Action Conference: A Call to Action Against Food Insecurity
As we close the doors on this year’s Hungry for Action Conference, we are filled with gratitude and inspiration from the nearly 400 passionate attendees who gathered in Tulsa to confront the pressing issue of food insecurity in our state. Over the course of this event, we explored new strategies, forged invaluable connections, and ignited a shared commitment to action.
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Navigating and Preventing SNAP Fraud
SNAP theft and fraud are on the rise. Learn how to protect your SNAP funds and report theft below.
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Breakfast After the Bell: Fueling Success for Students
Breakfast has long been hailed as the most important meal of the day, and for good reason. When it comes to K-12 students, ensuring they start their day with a nutritious meal is crucial for their overall well-being and academic success. That’s where Breakfast After the Bell programs come in, reimagining how schools approach morning nutrition.
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Non-congregate Summer Meal Sites Expand to Majority of State
As the new school year starts, the excitement is in the air! Kids are meeting their teachers and reuniting with friends, while parents are busy gathering school supplies to set their children up for success. Schools, teachers, and staff are working hard to ensure a smooth school year. Amidst all this energy, we’re excited to share some thrilling updates about the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in Schools initiatives and how they can provide valuable support.
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Summer EBT Program Update: What’s Next for 2025
In recent days, we’ve been navigating a flurry of developments regarding the Summer EBT program and its future in our state. Here’s a quick overview of where things stand:
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Back-to-School Excitement!
As the new school year starts, the excitement is in the air! Kids are meeting their teachers and reuniting with friends, while parents are busy gathering school supplies to set their children up for success. Schools, teachers, and staff are working hard to ensure a smooth school year. Amidst all this energy, we’re excited to share some thrilling updates about the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in Schools initiatives and how they can provide valuable support.
Read more »Hunger Free Oklahoma responds to Governor Stitt’s office’s statement on decision to opt out of Summer EBT for the second year in a row.
In response to recent statements made by Governor Stitt’s office regarding the 2025 Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program, it is crucial to correct several inaccuracies and highlight the benefits of this federal initiative in addressing child hunger and food insecurity.
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Mayor Holt Proclaims August 4-10 as Oklahoma City Farmers Market Week
Mayor David Holt officially declared August 4-10 as Oklahoma City Farmers Market Week in alignment with National Farmers Market Week, celebrating the local farmers and producers who contribute to Oklahoma City’s rich agricultural heritage.
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Ending Hunger in Oklahoma: Community Collaboration and Support
One in six Oklahomans are food insecure, making Oklahoma one of the hungriest states in the country. Food insecurity is a complex issue with no single solution. With rising food and housing costs, it will take a sustained community effort to end food insecurity in the state.
What does a sustained community effort look like?
A sustained community effort involves ongoing collaboration, education, support, and resource sharing among various stakeholders. It requires consistent engagement from local organizations and partnerships to create a robust network of support.
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Hunger Free Oklahoma Launches LEARN Workshop to Amplify Perspectives of Those Experiencing Food Insecurity
To amplify the voices of those who experience hunger and food insecurity, Hunger Free Oklahoma is launching the Lived Experience and Resource Network (LEARN) Workshop that includes a paid eight-month program beginning September 2024 for Tulsa and surrounding area residents.
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Congressional Visits: Making Advocacy Easy and Accessible
On June 5, a team representing Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO), the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma went to Washington, D.C. where they discussed the upcoming Farm Bill with our Oklahoma delegation. For several, it was their first time to make Congressional visits. Here is a glimpse into some of their experiences, proving that anyone passionate about these issues can engage with their elected officials.
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Summer EBT: Providing a Healthy Summer for Kids
The Muscogee Nation is partnering with the Chickasaw Nation, the Cherokee Nation, Hunger Free Oklahoma, and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to introduce the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) to the Muscogee Nation Reservation. Summer EBT provides additional nutritional support to eligible children during the summer months when they do not have access to school meals.
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Making Summer Nutrition a SNAP: A Grocery Assistance Explainer
As summer approaches, households with school-age children can find themselves in a tough position. Without school to supplement some of their kids’ nutrition needs throughout the day, grocery budgets get stretched and what a family can afford may be limited.
Read more »Ladder of Youth Voice
YAC is an intergenerational approach to authentic youth engagement and we follow the Ladder of Youth Voice, adopted by Adam Fletcher. The lowest levels of the ladder represent programs with youth who are not able to make decisions on the projects they work on, the activities they do, and can appear to be in token roles. The highest levels of the ladder represent programs with youth who are leading projects, making decisions, practicing conflict resolution, and embodying a youth-driving atmosphere. We strive for youth/adult equity in our Youth Action Council program at Hunger Free Oklahoma.
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Politics Take a Back Seat to Hunger at Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol
“Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
This quote hangs in my office as a daily reminder to myself and others. A reminder that true advocacy is not just about fighting for what matters to you – it is about inspiring others to join the conversation. Justice Ginsburg’s words are especially important in reflection of Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol.
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