by Eric Barr, Hunger Outreach Program Specialist
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.
Collaboration continues to be the center of our work at Hunger Free Oklahoma. One way we are focusing on collaboration is through a supportive network called the Tulsa Community Partners Program (TCPP). TCPP was created in 2019 and brings together diverse organizations that work in Tulsa, Creek, Okmulgee, Osage, Rogers, and Wagoner Counties to share best practices, ask questions, discuss challenges, reduce stigma, and learn best practices when engaging clients about SNAP. These are the perfect ingredients for addressing food insecurity.
Being a member of TCPP comes with multiple perks that can help you become an expert in increasing awareness and talking about SNAP with your clients.
TCPP members gain access to:
- The online learning management system – Self–paced online training that provides knowledge to assist your clients in completing the SNAP Application.
- Quarterly data reports – Detailed information on the number of applications submitted by the organization, household demographics, reasons for denials, and the amount awarded. This data can be used when applying for grants, strategizing outreach efforts, and celebrating the positive impact on the community.
- Outreach Materials – Free outreach materials that fit your organizations needs that can be ordered from our Shopify store.
- Connections to other organizations that provide wrap-around services – Network with experts in areas such as taxes, Medicare, SoonerCare, employment, and housing. By joining TCPP members can connect with these organizations to better help their clients.
Oklahomans should not have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from. By combining the efforts and expertise of organizations already established in the community, we can end hunger in Oklahoma.
TCPP meets the second Thursday of every other month from 10 AM – 11 AM. Our next meeting is August 8 at 10 AM via Zoom. If you or someone you know is interested in joining TCPP please have them email Eric Barr or Lacrinthia Watts.