OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – It’s estimated that one in five children in Oklahoma faces food insecurity.
Despite these statistics, the state canceled its summer EBT food program earlier this year.
“Our state has historically been the worst in the nation when it comes to not providing enough meals to kids over the summer,” said Chris Bernard, president and CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma.
This year marks the first year of summer EBT benefits, similar to a plan implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the pandemic, which includes the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole tribes.
Eligible families can receive up to $40 per month for each eligible child. The benefit is coordinated with other federal aid programs.
“We estimate that in total, close to 200,000 children will be eligible for this benefit,” Bernard said.
But Bernard told KFOR that number represents less than half of the eligible children in the state.
“If the state had participated, nearly 450,000 children would have had access to this program,” Bernard said.
Gov. Stitt expressed concerns in January about being required to participate in the program before the rules were finalized.
“The reason we have not participated in the EBT program at this time is because it has not been fully tested,” Stitt said. “We just don’t know enough about the program. That’s not to say we won’t participate next year.”
Getting involved for next year is exactly what Benard wants from the state.
“The first official deadline for states to state their intent to continue this program next year is mid-August,” Bernard said. “Not doing so simply denies these families the resources they need to provide for their families, and that doesn’t just hurt them, it hurts all of us.”
Summer EBT will be an important tool to help close the summer hunger gap when children are unable to eat nutritious school meals over the summer. Ensuring children have access to nutritious food throughout the summer is essential to ensure they are thriving and ready to learn when school starts in the fall.
Research shows that food insecurity has a negative impact on the physical, emotional and cognitive development of children, and we should be doing everything we can to alleviate hunger year-round. The Regional Food Bank’s Summer Feeding Program currently provides free meals and snacks to children up to age 18 at more than 100 sites across central and western Oklahoma. Families can visit rfbo.org/summermeals to find a summer feeding site operating in their area.
Dr. Stacey Dykstra, CEO of the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank
Here’s a map showing which states are participating in the program.
