Oklahoma Regional Food Bank
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma Regional Food Bank is kicking off a summer campaign Tuesday to provide free meals and snacks to children.
Free summer meals and snacks will be available to children ages 18 and up starting May 28 through the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank’s summer feeding program, according to the regional food bank.
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“Having access to nutritious food throughout the summer is crucial to children’s healthy development,” said Stacey Dykstra, CEO of the Area Food Bank.
The summer meal program officially began on May 28th and will run through August 9th.
The Summer Feeding Program is a federal nutrition program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and distributed through the Oklahoma Department of Education. All meals and snacks for the Summer Feeding Program are prepared and packaged by volunteers at the Regional Food Bank’s kitchen, Hope’s Kitchen. Volunteers are needed throughout the summer to meet demand. To become a volunteer, according to the Regional Food Bank, visit rfbo.org/volunteer.
Area food bank leaders also confirmed they are partnering with Love’s Travel Stops to provide nutritious food to children in central and western Oklahoma.
“Love’s is passionate about supporting Oklahoma youth and believes no child should go hungry in this state,” said Love’s President and CEO, Ian Wilson. “When the local food bank reached out to us and told us that children won’t have access to enough nutritious food this summer, we didn’t hesitate to donate. Children are a vulnerable population in our state, especially in rural areas where access to quality food can be difficult. We are grateful for this summer meal program and are confident it will make a difference during the 10 weeks of the summer when children won’t have access to the free and reduced lunches they’re accustomed to at school.”
Jenny Love Meyer, chief culture officer at Love’s
“This is the first time in four years that families with children will not be able to receive their summer EBT cards to help pay for groceries,” Dykstra said. “We’re so grateful for the support of Love’s Travel Stops in helping us get this assistance to as many children as possible.”
Visit rfbo.org/summermeals to find sites throughout the organization’s 53-county service area.
