Research

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Change doesn’t happen overnight, especially at the federal level. But regularly showing up, building relationships, and sharing real stories from Oklahomans are the actions that ultimately move the needle.

In the spirit of this approach, earlier this month Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) organized a powerful trip to Washington, D.C. for several of our partners. Our group met with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the urgent need to address food insecurity in our state and across the nation.

Hunger Free Oklahoma and our 400+ partners across the state witness the reality of food insecurity every day. Food insecurity is not a theoretical issue; it is a lived experience for millions of Americans. The decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to end the annual Household Food Security Reports is deeply troubling and undermines decades of progress in understanding and addressing hunger in our communities.

As another summer wraps up, we at Hunger Free Oklahoma cannot celebrate the great work of the Summer Meal sponsors and site staff enough. The Summer Meals program is a federal program that allows children to have access to nutritious food during summer break.

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.

Today, Ryan Walters put out an email to Oklahoma parents informing them that every child in Oklahoma should have access to no-cost school meals. While we share the end goal, we do not agree it can be achieved by this proposed approach.

“This bill is a setback, and it’s frustrating. But it doesn’t change what we know to be true. Hunger didn’t begin with this bill and it won’t end with it, either.”

Hunger Free Oklahoma is sounding the alarm about the advancement of Congress’ proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would shift the burden onto states like Oklahoma and weaken a program millions rely on to feed their families.

One out of every five kids in Oklahoma doesn’t always have enough food to eat.
No child should have to sit in class hungry and unable to focus. It hurts their ability to learn, disrupts the class for the teacher, and results in worse outcomes for our educational system. But it happens in classrooms for thousands of students in our state every day because their families don’t have the resources and their schools don’t leverage all the tools available to them to make sure kids have access to the food they need.

Hunger Free Oklahoma President/CEO Chris Bernard released a statement in response to Governor Stitt’s Executive Order 2025-13 which, in part, seeks to limit SNAP purchases:

Today, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced in an executive order that he had the Oklahoma Department of Human Services pursue federal approval to restrict the purchase of soda and candy with SNAP benefits as part of a larger set of directives to address Oklahomans’ health. While we all share the important goal of improving health outcomes for Oklahomans, this approach is misaligned with both the data and the broader needs of our communities.

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.

Oklahoma has taken a significant step toward integrating nutrition into healthcare with the passage of Senate Bill 806, known as the Food is Medicine Act. This legislation recognizes the critical role that access to nutritious food plays in preventing and managing chronic diseases, particularly for those enrolled in Medicaid.

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.