Hunger in the News

New WIC Rules Expand Healthy Food Options

“The last time WIC was permanently updated was a decade ago; however, there was a temporary change during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a few of the new rules are similar to COVID-era changes, which provide cash vouchers for fresh and healthy food options.”

Oklahoma Voice: Oklahoma lawmakers to consider expanding school meal programs, but GOP views vary

“We do believe in stronger local food systems, and we’d love to see kids eat more fresh vegetables,” Bernard said. “This was a way to kind of include all those things to make it more economically viable for schools, build the local food system (and) create healthier options.”

New York Times: 15 G.O.P. Governors Shut Out Food Aid for 8 Million Children

“Chris Bernard, president and chief executive of Hunger Free Oklahoma, an advocacy group, said he was disappointed by the state’s response given its strong track record on combating hunger in recent years.”

The Oklahoman: Oklahoma declines to join new summer food program for children, a disappointment to some child advocates

“We are always in the bottom 10 in the country in terms of food security,” Bernard said. “Families and kids are struggling for sure, and the (summer food) program was something we’ve supported for a long time.”

Tulsa World: Food insecurity worsening as pandemic efforts dwindle in Tulsa area, report says

“Nearly all of those (programs) have ended over the last 12 months, while inflation and housing costs are at record levels, which has resulted in the steepest increase in food insecurity since the housing bubble burst in 2009,” Bernard said.

News from the States: USDA expands universal school meal program for Oklahoma districts

“In its simplest terms, we all know kids need to have a full belly in order to fill their brains with the knowledge they need,” Bernard said. “The question is, to me, are we as a state willing to make the investment required to make sure that happens, or are we willing to let the dollars we invest in education continue to not be leveraged in their maximum way because we can’t meet some of these most basic needs.”

KOSU: Here’s what Oklahomans who lost food following storms, power outages need to know

After the strong storms this weekend, hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans were without power – and the ability to keep food refrigerated. Many have had to discard items that have gone bad.

The Oklahoman: Slim majority of Oklahoma delegation backs debt ceiling deal

Chris Bernard, president and CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma, said restrictions to the nutrition program “should never have been part of the debt ceiling discussion. Hunger Free Oklahoma opposes increasing barriers for Oklahomans trying to put food on the table. We urge our leaders to take up the challenge of decreasing hunger and poverty — free of myth and performance — during the Farm Bill discussions this fall. 

The Oklahoman: School meal program stalls in Legislature in spite of large budget surplus

“It was well supported in the House, and I think it is well supported in the Senate, but I think the (Senate education) chairman is playing politics, and playing politics with hungry school kids is kind of unconscionable,” said Rep. Jeff Boatman, author of House Bill 1376, which would have increased the cap for free school meals from 130% of the poverty line to 250%.

KFOR: Federal fund will replace stolen SNAP benefits

“Help could be on the way for Oklahomans who have had their food stamp benefits drained right out of their bank accounts.”

KFOR: ‘We need everyone to change their pin’: Oklahoma Human Services warns of SNAP scams

“As card skimming scams continue to cripple Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers nationwide by draining their accounts, Oklahoma Human Services is now recommending anyone with the benefits to change their pin numbers immediately.”

KOAM: Could ‘Food Stamps’ Program Give Memory a Boost?

“Researchers found that eligible older adults who used the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — commonly called food stamps — had two fewer years of mental decline over a 10-year period than those who could have registered for the program but did not.”

FRAC: The Pandemic Disrupted a Decade-Long Decline in Food Insecurity in 2020, but Government Policy Has Been a Critical Support

“Examining food insecurity over this longer period is illustrative of just how disruptive the pandemic has been, and on the flip side, how important a strong nutrition and social safety net is for all Americans.”

Homeland Security: DHS Publishes Fair and Humane Public Charge Rule

“This action ensures fair and humane treatment of legal immigrants and their U.S. citizen family members,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Consistent with America’s bedrock values, we will not penalize individuals for choosing to access the health benefits and other supplemental government services available to them.”

Oklahoma Watch: As Universal Free Lunch Program Ends, Obstacles Return For Some Families

“We’re really doing a disservice by not keeping (programs like this) in place and it’s going to be harder for schools,” Chris Bernard said. “It’s going to be harder for families. And I’m not sure we can predict every result from it yet, but over the course of this school year, you’re going to see it.” 

KRMG: USDA extends flexibility that’s helping manufacturers, states get formula to WIC families

“USDA is covering the added cost of non-contract formula to make it financially feasible for states to allow WIC participants to purchase alternate sizes, forms, or brands of infant formula.”

FRAC: Thrifty Food Plan Reevaluation and SNAP Emergency Allotments Combined to Cut Poverty

“The states registering the highest poverty reduction percentages from the combination of TFP reevaluation and SNAP EAs were: New Mexico (-26.4 percent), Oklahoma (-22.2), Louisiana (-21.1), West Virginia (-20.9), Mississippi (-20.8), and Rhode Island (-20.5).”

KOCO: COVID-19 public health emergency extended in the US

“Plus, many low-income families are receiving enhanced food stamp benefits thanks to the declaration.”

FRAC: FRAC’s Community Eligibility Report Highlights Value of Healthy School Meals for All, Supporting Need to Extend Child Nutrition Waivers

“Schools that participate in community eligibility often see increased participation in school meals, decreased stigma around school meal participation, a reduction in administrative burdens and costs to schools, and bolstered school nutrition finances.”

Supermarket News: Amazon eyes nationwide acceptance of SNAP EBT for online grocery payments

“E-tail giant extends its reach to more than 99% of SNAP households.”

Tulsa World Editorial: New federal agriculture programs could reshape American food supply

“The first grants from new U.S. Department of Agriculture programs intended to bolster food purchasing from local producers are coming to Oklahoma through the schools.”

The Washington Post: Republican governors in 15 states reject summer food money for kids

“Chris Bernard, the chief executive of Hunger Free Oklahoma, said that with the state not opting into the program, an estimated 300,000 children won’t have access to the summer monetary benefit when school lets out.”

USDA: USDA Selects Five States to Test Mobile Contactless Payments in SNAP

“Oklahoma is excited to be a pilot state in the effort to create a quicker, more efficient and secure way of providing SNAP benefits to our state’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Tom Pennington, Oklahoma Human Services financial administrator.

KGOU: Oklahoma students will see increased access to summer meals under omnibus bill

“The most effective way to deal with food insecurity, period, is an EBT model, to give people the resources to purchase their own food when they need it, and the beauty of that program is it stimulates local economies. It keeps money flowing through local businesses,” said Bernard.

Reuters: Nutrition benefits for families could increase under U.S. agency proposal

“The USDA proposed expanding the list of groceries participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program can buy to include grains like quinoa and teff, a range of non-dairy milks and cheeses as well as canned fish and beans.”

FRAC: USDA Food Security Report Underscores the Critical Role of Federal Nutrition Programs

“The annual food security report released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) found that hunger fell in 2021 compared to the previous year, underscoring the critical role that the federal nutrition programs play in keeping hunger at bay during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

NPR: The U.S. diet is deadly. Here are 7 ideas to get Americans eating healthier

“Without access to free meals at school, many children go without food at all during the day, and many more do not have access to the nutritious foods they need to thrive.”

MSN: Exclusive: Biden administration likely to extend baby formula help for low-income moms

“A spokesperson for the Agriculture Department, which oversees the WIC program, confirmed the department is taking ‘a very serious look at extending the flexibilities and hopes to do so soon.’ ”

St. Louis Public Radio: Native Americans across Midwest embrace traditional foods rejected by centuries of colonization

“The Quapaw Nation in Oklahoma has been at the forefront of building food sovereignty programs.”

USDA: USDA to Invest in Expanding SNAP Online Shopping

“Online grocery shopping is a vital resource that improves access and convenience for all, including low-income families.”

KTUL: COVID-19 meal waivers to end in June leaving some students hungry

“According to Hunger Free Oklahoma, Oklahoma is historically the worst state in the nation with kids who are on free and reduced lunch, and the State Department of Education says meals will no longer be free even if the federal waivers were approved, students will only be able to get free lunch if they qualify for it, and fill out the free and reduced meal form.”

WGN Radio: Global finance meeting focuses on war-driven food insecurity

“Global finance leaders are putting the growing crisis over food insecurity and skyrocketing food prices at center stage as members of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank meet in Washington and grapple with the brutal effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine.”

FRAC: FRAC Urges Senate to Pass Bi-Partisan Legislation to Keep Children Fed as the Nation Recovers from the Pandemic

“The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) commends Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) for introducing a bill, the Support Kids Not Red Tape Act, that will enable children to maintain continued access to child nutrition programs as families, schools, afterschool and summer programs, and child care providers recover from and respond to the economic, health, and educational fallout from the pandemic.“

FRAC: USDA Report Underscores the Urgent Need to Extend Child Nutrition Waivers

“Congress must provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the authority to continue child nutrition waivers through the 2022-2023 school year in the appropriations package currently being negotiated and expected to pass this week.”

FRAC: Black History Month: Six Champions Fighting to #EndHungerNow in America

“Advocates include Members of Congress sponsoring and introducing legislation, as well as leaders in nonprofit advocacy organizations.”

FOX 23: Broken Arrow farmers market to accept SNAP and SFMNP for first time

“The farmers market will open on Saturday, April 2, for its 19th season and will be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. through October

FRAC: New Data Underscore Importance of SNAP Benefit Redemptions During COVID-19

“With Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits taken into account, SNAP benefit redemptions topped $125 billion in FY 2021, according to new data from USDA.  That represented a 61 percent increase over the prior year.”

Tulsa World: Schools will stop serving free lunch to all students — a pandemic solution left out of new federal spending package

“…most schools will have to resume the old three-tiered system where some families don’t pay at all, some receive discounted lunches, and others must pay full price.”

Tulsa World Column: Ways for lawmakers to curb hunger and build economic security for Oklahomans

“It’s a new year, but many previous challenges remain. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Oklahoma has the fourth highest food insecurity rate in the nation.”

USDA: USDA Announces Increased Funding for School Meals, Child and Adult Care Meals

“U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced an increase in funding to help schools continue to serve kids healthy meals this coming school year and provide financial relief for schools and child care providers.”

Tulsa World: New legislation could extend COVID school meal waivers

“Hunger Free Oklahoma and many others have been calling for action on these crucial issues for months now,” Executive Director Chris Bernard said.

Tulsa World: School districts bracing for end of COVID-19 meal waivers

“The waivers were designed to respond to COVID-19, and it’s this mindset of acting like ‘COVID-19 is over, so we’re not dealing with it,’” Hunger Free Oklahoma Executive Director Chris Barnard said. “Regardless of your opinion on the public health side of it, the impacts aren’t over.”

Time: A Crisis Point.’ Schools Are Fighting to Extend a Meal Program That Keeps Millions of Kids Fed

“…when the omnibus package that funds the government for Fiscal Year 2022 was introduced last month, an extension of the funding for school meal waivers wasn’t part of it. Instead, schools faced a looming deadline: the waivers are set to expire June 30.”

• Hunger Free Oklahoma Releases Statement on USDA’s 2022 Household Food Security in the United States ReportOctober 27, 2023
  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its 2022 Household Food Security in the United States report this week. The USDA report shows a national increase in food insecurity rates, and state-level data reports Oklahoma’s food insecurity rate is higher than the national average.
• Hunger Free Oklahoma’s Chief Program Officer Richard Comeau is Awarded an Aspen Institute Food Leaders FellowshipSeptember 22, 2023
  Richard Comeau, Chief Program Officer for Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO), was recently welcomed to Aspen, Colorado, where he began his tenure as a Food Leaders Fellow of the Aspen Institute. The 2023 Food Leaders Fellows include entrepreneurs, investors, and civic and nonprofit leaders dedicated to changing the food system to eradicate food and nutrition insecurity, support entrepreneurs and farmers, and push forward sustainable solutions.
• Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Visits OklahomaJune 27, 2023
  In a significant effort to address and tackle pressing food security challenges, Stacy Dean, the highest-ranking official in USDA’s food security division, is visiting eastern Oklahoma today and tomorrow to meet with Hunger Free Oklahoma and others to discuss vital updates and initiatives concerning food security.
• Two Sand Springs Cash Saver locations now doubling the value of SNAP for fruits and vegetablesJanuary 19, 2023
  Sand Springs residents won’t have to choose between eating enough and eating healthy thanks to Double Up Oklahoma (DUO), a nutrition incentive program operated by Hunger Free Oklahoma. When customers make a purchase with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) card at Cash Savers in Sand Springs, those purchases will now be matched, dollar for dollar, with DUO Bucks redeemable on fresh produce.
• Hunger Free Oklahoma Applauds Permanent Child Nutrition Investments in OmnibusDecember 20, 2022
  Congress is on the cusp of advancing a critical end-of-year omnibus spending package that will make two much-needed, though limited, improvements to federal child nutrition programs.
• Hunger Free Oklahoma Adds Doug McDurham to Executive TeamDecember 19, 2022
  Based in Oklahoma City, Doug McDurham will spearhead strategic communications and fund development initiatives at HFO.
• Hunger Free Oklahoma Secures $14.2 Million Grant to Increase Access to Fruits and Vegetables in Oklahoma Food DesertsNovember 22, 2022
  “Collectively, this support will allow us to make Double Up Oklahoma the largest nutrition incentive program in the region. More importantly, this grant allows us to make sure more communities have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and more Oklahomans have the resources they need to make healthy choices,” – Chris Bernard
• Hunger Free Oklahoma Commitment to Expand Access to Affordable Food Highlighted at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and HealthSeptember 28, 2022
  “Collectively, this support will allow us to make Double Up Oklahoma the largest nutrition incentive program in the region. More importantly, this grant allows us to make sure more communities have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and more Oklahomans have the resources they need to make healthy choices,” – Chris Bernard
• Hunger Free Oklahoma Applauds Child Nutrition Flexibilities in Keep Kids Fed Act June 22, 2022
  “Congress took an important step yesterday to combat childhood hunger with the announcement of an agreement to protect access to school and summer meals through the introduction of the bipartisan Keep the Kids Fed Act by Senate Committee on Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR), along with House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA 03) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R NC-5).
• Oklahoma Children and Youth Now Eligible for Free Summer Meals StatewideJune 22, 2022
  Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) has hired new organizational leadership with the addition of Narine Lambert as Director of Finance and Administration and Keili McEwen as Director of Strategic Advancement.