SNAP

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.

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.

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist Check out the new Friday Five There is a new way to get the latest info on food security policy discussions that impact Oklahoma. Follow HFO on social media and each Friday, we are sharing the […]

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. 

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist The temperatures are creeping up and legislative deadlines creep up on us as well, welcome back to our March edition of Capitol insider. We have updates on committee deadlines, floor deadlines, and which bills are still […]

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.

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist State Updates Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol Join Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Hunger Free Oklahoma, and Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma for our 2025 Anti-Hunger Day at the Capitol March 27. Gather with food security […]

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.

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.

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist State Updates: January 16, 2025, was the filing deadline for bills to be heard during the 2025 Oklahoma Legislative Session.  As of January 17, 2025, there have been over 3,000 bills filed for the 2025 legislative […]

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.

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.

by Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, and Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist State Updates: Season’s greetings from the Policy Team at Hunger Free Oklahoma! The year is winding down, but advocates are warming up to get ready for another state legislative session. Coming off the November elections, there […]

by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist Welcome to November’s hefty edition of Capitol Insider. We bring you a bounty of election updates at the state and federal levels, and things to keep an eye on in the food policy realm. The next few months will be filled with lots of changes and […]

SNAP theft and fraud are on the rise. Learn how to protect your SNAP funds and report theft below.

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.

by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist State Updates Friday, October 11 was the deadline to register to vote in the November 2024 elections in Oklahoma.In-person early voting begins October 30 and runs through November 2. Early voting hours on the weekdays are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on November 2 from […]

SNAP theft and fraud are on the rise. Learn how to protect your SNAP funds and report theft below.

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.

by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist State Updates State Question 832 is a state question proposing to raise the minimum wage in Oklahoma and will be put to a vote of the people, but it won’t be on November 5. According to Misha Mohr, public information officer at the State Election Board, […]

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.

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:

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.

by Bailey Ashbaker, Senior Policy Analyst and Engagement Specialist, and Jessica Dietrich, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy State Legislative Updates 2024 Interim Studies Interim studies are an opportunity for legislators to learn more about a given issue before the next legislative session begins. The goal is to inform lawmakers’ next likely policy priorities. […]