Need immediate food assistance?
Call the USDA Hotline (1-866-3-HUNGRY) or Call 2-1-1.
To apply for SNAP or renew your SNAP application, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Human Services webpage.
Food Insecurity
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity is a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Hunger is an individual-level physiological condition that may result from food insecurity.
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- Feeding America‘s Map the Meal Gap is a great way to explore food insecurity statistics at both a state and county level
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture annually publishes statistics on the frequency and prevalence of Food Insecurity in the U.S.
- Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) offers several resources for exploring the relationship between Hunger and Health
- Frequently the Center on Budget Policy Priorities (CBPP) publishes reports and articles on Food Assistance
- The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice has several reports regarding College Food Insecurity
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In Oklahoma, the Child Nutrition Programs are administered by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Summer Meals
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally funded program that provides kids and teens in low-income areas nutritious meals when school is not in session.
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- Food Research & Action Center’s (FRAC) Summer Food Mapper helps identify areas that are eligible for Summer Meals
- Access program planning tools No Kid Hungry’s: Summer Meals Best Practices Page
- Utilize Food For Thought OK Summer Meals outreach materials to promote the program in your area
- Find your nearest Oklahoma Summer Meals site by visiting www.meals4kidsok.org
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Afterschool Meals
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s At-Risk Afterschool Meals component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) offers federal funding to afterschool programs that offer enrichment activities and serve a meal or snack to children and teens in low-income areas.
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- Visit Food Research & Action Center’s (FRAC) Afterschool Meals Resource Library
- Learn more about program guidelines with USDA’s CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals Handbook
- No Kid Hungry offers Afterschool Meals program Best Practices
- Read how Oklahoma expanded its participation in Afterschool Meals program during the 2016-2017 school year through the FRAC 2018 Afterschool Nutrition Report
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School Breakfast
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and non-profit private schools and residential child care institutions. The School Breakfast Program gives students the opportunity to start their day full, focused, and ready to learn by providing a healthy breakfast at school.
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- Read about School Breakfast Program participation across the state: Oklahoma School Breakfast Report Card (2016-2017)
- Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) shares Strategies to Increase School Breakfast Participation
- Learn more Breakfast After the Bell (BATB) models through Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom’s Resource Page and Toolkits
- No Kid Hungry provides Best Practices for Implementing Breakfast After the Bell
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Hunger Free Oklahoma’s work on Breakfast After the Bell is sponsored by Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom and the Walmart Foundation.
CEP
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications.
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- Learn how CEP works with USDA’s Fact Sheet
- Food Research & Action Center’s (FRAC) CEP Resource Page provides program guidance for school district leaders
- Determine if your school or district is eligible to participate in CEP with FRAC’s CEP Eligibility Database
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Special Milk Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also has a program to assist schools in Providing Nutritious Milk to Children
SNAP
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
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- Oklahoma State Department of Human Services administers SNAP in Oklahoma. Their website offers an easy way to apply, review or renew SNAP applications
- For an online list of What Can SNAP Buy? visit this USDA website. This website also has links to information on SNAP E&T, Work Requirements, Eating Healthy with SNAP, and Research
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides some Special Rules for the Elderly or Disabled regarding SNAP
- Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) provides additional information on how SNAP Matters to Seniors
- The National Council on Aging has resources for helping older adults maintain healthy nutrition: Senior Hunger and Nutrition
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WIC
Through The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
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- Recently the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) released a report on Making WIC Work Better: Strategies to Reach More Women and Children and Strengthen Benefits Use. It includes best practices and recommendations for improving WIC programs.
- In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Department of Health is the state WIC administrating agency. This website includes links to an application, eligibility requirements, qualifying foods lists, health and nutrition, health partners.
- There are also nine Tribal WIC Programs in Oklahoma
- U.S. Department of Agriculture supports the Farmers Market Nutrition Program was established by Congress in 1992, to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants, and to expand the awareness, use of, and sales at farmers’ markets.
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“I had one student that was self-supported and not aware he qualified for SNAP. This student was purchasing all his groceries himself and struggling to make ends meet. Having SNAP helped him tremendously.”
“Before a child can come to school and be ready to pay attention to the teacher and learn, they must have their basic needs met. If students are not provided with healthy food at home or any food at all, learning will not be a top priority at school. The school and community programs or churches should work together to make sure every child has food at to eat.”
“Ensuring students’ basic needs are met (including access to food) should be a top priority for schools and communities. Children who are hungry are not able to devote their attention and energy to learning.”