Research

by Allycia Brimson, Raul Lopez, and Treba Shyers of the HFO SNAP Application Hotline Leadership Reflecting: Everyone everywhere is reflecting on the past year—the pandemic, the struggles, the loss, and the lessons learned. About a year ago we all felt the shock and reality of the COVID-19 crisis. We had questions… • How do we […]

by Richard Comeau, Program Director, Hunger Free Oklahoma Double Up Oklahoma (DUO) is making a difference. In the city of Okemah (Okfuskee County), which has only one full-service grocery store and some of Oklahoma’s worst health indicators, Double Up Oklahoma (DUO) is fulfilling a need. So much so that according to Homeland staff, people are […]

by Jessica Dietrich, Policy and Government Relations Manager, Hunger Free Oklahoma The American Rescue Plan Act, passed by Congress March 10th, will help the thousands of Oklahomans struggling to put food on the table. According to the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey, Oklahoma’s food scarcity rate, the more extreme end of food insecurity, has been […]

by Katie Maschino, Hunger Outreach Specialist, Hunger Free Oklahoma We have all heard the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” and research consistently proves that eating breakfast is better for our physical and mental health than skipping breakfast altogether. For children, the benefits of eating school breakfast are especially strong. Research […]

by Chris Bernard, Executive Director The well-known African Proverb says, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” In the past year, across Oklahoma we have seen this proverb in action to address food insecurity. Oklahoma’s non-profit organizations, tribal nations, government stakeholders, community leaders, and others are […]

by Doug McDurham, Director of Public Affairs, Baylor University’s Texas Hunger Initiative Published in 2017, “Ending Hunger in Oklahoma; An assessment of food insecurity and resources in Oklahoma,” included a statewide analysis of the sources of food assistance. According to the authors, my colleagues at the Texas Hunger Initiative (THI), 93% of food assistance in […]

by Hunger Free Oklahoma Communications Staff When the school year ends, so do school meals. For the more than 30,000 Tulsa Public Schools students who eat free and reduced price school meals, this means an increased risk of missing out on a nutritious meal. And for the kids eating a free and reduced price school […]

Health and Food Insecurity – A Comprehensive Approach by Katie Maschino, Hunger Free Oklahoma Hunger Outreach Program Specialist The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food security as “access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.” This enables those working in the anti-hunger field to use a comprehensive […]

Hunger Free Oklahoma, an organization working to end food insecurity across the state, published its first Oklahoma School Breakfast Report Card today which finds that the rate of breakfast participation in Oklahoma has fallen behind other states, even as participation has experienced a slight uptick.

Hunger Free Oklahoma is seeking input from community members about hunger related issues. Responses will be used in developing community solutions to hunger.

Hunger Free Oklahoma wants your input on the experiences you have had with Federal Nutrition Programs. Data will be collected to identify successes and barriers to participation in programs, such as school meal programs and SNAP. We are specifically asking for input on your satisfaction with the programs and changes you would like to see […]

10. No Child Should Start the Day Hungry – Students who skip breakfast have slower memory, make more mistakes, and are more likely to repeat a grade. Find out more. 9. Growing Brains Need Fuel – Eating breakfast boosts math, reading, and standardized test scores, improves attention, and increases problem-solving skills. Find out more. 8. […]

An Assessment of Food Insecurity and Resources, Excerpt Individuals and organizations throughout Oklahoma – in its larger cities and its rural communities – are working to support their neighbors struggling with food insecurity. Despite the tireless work of local and state organizations, food insecurity is still a serious problem in Oklahoma. In order to fully […]

Imagine fighting hunger – and the stigma that comes with a “free or reduced meals” application – in our public schools with free breakfast and lunch for all students.  In Houston, that dream has become a reality. Houston ISD offers breakfast and lunch free of charge in all elementary and middle schools (even some high […]

Center for Budget and Policy Priorities The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also widely known as food stamps, is an anti-hunger program reaching populations of need across the state. SNAP is extremely responsive to need with very poor households receiving more supplemental assistance than households closer to the poverty line. Households receive benefits on EBT […]

During the school year, 62% of Oklahoma kids rely on free-and-reduced meals to receive proper nutrition; many of these students do not have access to adequate nutrition outside of school. In Tulsa, a staggering 84% of students rely on free-and-reduced meals. Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) has offered Summer Café for over 30 years as a […]

By Food, Research and Action Center, Excerpt The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a federal program that allows low-income schools to feed breakfast and lunch to all students free of charge. The program is designed to reduce the number of hungry students in class and reduce the burden of paperwork for many schools. Students that […]

By Food, Research and Action Center, excerpt We’ve all experienced that feeling during a late morning meeting where our thoughts wander to lunch plans. Whether we’re thinking about heating up our leftovers or excited for lunch with an old friend, it’s easy for our mind to wander when our body is focused on food. If […]

On December 9, 2016, Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) submitted a letter to the State Department of Education regarding their request for comment on the Oklahoma draft State Plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The Every Student Succeeds Act was signed into law in 2015 with bipartisan support in congress. It requires every state […]