Help Hunger Free Oklahoma take a stand against food insecurity and hunger in our state by participating in Hunger Action Month during September!
Imagine not knowing how you will get your next meal. This is the reality for over 635,000 Oklahomans who experience food insecurity and hunger every year. Food insecurity effects more than one in five children in our state which has one of the highest food insecurity rates in the country at 16.2%. Hunger negatively impacts:
- Health: Exacerbates chronic illnesses including, kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity
- Children: Low birth-weight, delayed development, decreased language acquisition
- Academics: Lower reading and math scores, more significant behavior and social problems, lower high school graduation rates
- Oklahoma’s Economy: Weakened labor force, decreased educational attainment, increased health care costs
The good news is that you, your family, and your friends can be hunger fighters for Oklahoma! Below is a list of ways to get involved in ending hunger in our state.
Follow, share, post, and like. Use social media to amplify your voice! Post a new Oklahoma hunger statistic each week by visiting our page and like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Tag us @hungerfreeOK and make sure to use the state’s tag on hunger, #endhungerinOK
Contact your legislator. Urge your legislator to help expand and protect programs which help fight hunger in our state. Currently, the House version of the reauthorization of the 2018 Farm Bill has potential policies that could harm Oklahoma’s first line of defense on hunger: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Be an advocate by finding your legislator and sending them a Farm Bill Action Letter by visiting www.hungerfreeok.org/contact-your-legislator.
Request a presentation. Invite us to present at your agency meeting, congregation, association, or coalition today! Hunger is a complex issue and by sparking a dialogue rooted in research and data, we can build consensus and support to end hunger in Oklahoma. To schedule a presentation contact us!
Volunteer. Oklahoma’s two food banks, Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma are participating in Hunger Action Month and always love when fellow Oklahomans can volunteer their time!
Donate. Support our mission: to leverage the power of collaboration to solve hunger in Oklahoma by improving systems, policies, and practices. Donate to Hunger Free Oklahoma or another anti-hunger organization.
See if you qualify. 213,000 Oklahomans could have more money for groceries and do not know that they qualify for SNAP. Are you one of them? See if you qualify!
Go orange! Show your support of Hunger Action Month by going orange! Wear orange throughout the entire month to show others that you are taking a stand against hunger in Oklahoma. When you do, be sure to snap a selfie and share on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #endhungerinOK!