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A graph showing the prevalence of food insecurity in households with children, 2001-22.

Hunger Free Oklahoma Releases Statement on USDA’s 2022 Household Food Security in the United States Report

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.

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Hunger Free Oklahoma’s Chief Program Officer Richard Comeau is Awarded an Aspen Institute Food Leaders Fellowship

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.

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A woman in a pink blazer visits with school children while they eat their summer breakfast at school meal site.

Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Visits Oklahoma

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.

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Two Sand Springs Cash Saver locations now doubling the value of SNAP for fruits and vegetables

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.

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Hunger Free Oklahoma Applauds Permanent Child Nutrition Investments in Omnibus

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.

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Hunger Free Oklahoma Secures $14.2 Million Grant to Increase Access to Fruits and Vegetables in Oklahoma Food Deserts

“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

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Hunger Free Oklahoma Commitment to Expand Access to Affordable Food Highlighted at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

“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

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Hunger Free Oklahoma Applauds Child Nutrition Flexibilities in Keep Kids Fed Act 

“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).

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Oklahoma Children and Youth Now Eligible for Free Summer Meals Statewide

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.

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Hunger Free Oklahoma Adds Narine Lambert and Keili McEwen to Executive Team

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.

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OK Local

Oklahoma Lawmakers Join LOCAL Coalition on Visit to Grocery Store Utilizing “Double Up Oklahoma” Program

The Lift Oklahoma Communities, Agriculture, and Lifestyles (LOCAL) Coalition is seeking ways to expand the DUO program across the state through a stronger public/private partnership.

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Chris Testimony

Hunger Free Oklahoma Executive Director Testifies at Congressional House Committee on Rules Roundtable on Rural Hunger

Chris Bernard, Hunger Free Oklahoma’s executive director, was invited to testify at a congressional roundtable, along with four other experts from across the nation, as part of an effort to examine the issue of hunger in rural America.

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Hunger Free Oklahoma Receives Critical Investment from National Anti-Hunger Organization

As the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) is one of 52 organizations selected to receive funding through a critical $2.5 million investment from MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. The national anti-hunger organization’s partnership grants will help stem the tide in persistent food insecurity that was exacerbated by pandemic-related shutdowns.

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Hunger Free Oklahoma Secures USDA Grant to Address Reduced Access to Fruits and Vegetables Due to COVID-19

The USDA announced that Hunger Free Oklahoma was 1 of 35 recipients nationally to be awarded a Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program COVID-19 Relief and Response (GusCRR) grant of $650,000 to continuing the DUO program at farmers markets and grocery stores and allowing expansion to high-need areas across the state for the next year.

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HFO Applauds USDA for Modernizing SNAP Benefit Amounts for the First Time Since 1975 to More Accurately Reflect Costs of a Healthy Diet

Hunger Free Oklahoma applauds the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), USDA Secretary Vilsack, and President Biden for implementing the directives of the 2018 Farm Bill by re-evaluating the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) based on current data and economics. The update to the TFP leads to a more than 25 percent increase in benefit amounts for Oklahoma SNAP participants, a long overdue increase needed to more accurately reflect the costs incurred by low income families trying to meet their nutritional needs.

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Hunger Free Oklahoma receives $50,000 grant to support SNAP outreach

Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) announced today it has received a $50,000 grant from Telligen Community Initiative (TCI), a private, Iowa-based charitable foundation. This partnership supports HFO’s efforts to build public-private partnerships that connect more families to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, equip community organizations to serve as SNAP access points, and provide public education on the positive impact of SNAP and SNAP enrollment in Oklahoma communities.

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Hunger Free Oklahoma awarded USDA GusNIP grant to expand Double Up Oklahoma program

Hunger Free Oklahoma was awarded a $500,000 matching grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to expand Double Up Oklahoma in farmers markets across the state and to pilot a grocery store program in rural Oklahoma. Combined with over $400,000 in support from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) for an expansion to grocery stores

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No Child Deserves to be Shamed Because They Can’t Afford Lunch

Recently, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez signed the Hunger- Free Students’ Bill of Rights in an attempt to end the practice of shaming children who have outstanding debts on their school lunch accounts. According to coverage of the legislation, students and employees have reported such practices as stamping a child on the arm with “I need lunch money,” throwing a student’s hot meal in the trash when their account has insufficient funds, and forcing students to clean cafeteria tables in exchange for a meal. This is unacceptable.

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