Food Resources for Oklahoma Families
Published August 14, 2020
COVID-19 has caused difficulty for people around the world in a variety of ways. Fortunately, there are many resources and programs available to assist hardworking families. While neither the University of Oklahoma nor OU Medicine Inc. endorses any particular resource or program listed, we would like to highlight a group share a list of resources programs making sure families have access to a good supply of nutritious food. The following resources may be of assistance to you and your family. Please note that neither the OU nor OUMI endorse any particular resource or program.
- Emergency Resource Hotline
- Oklahoma 211 provides easy-access system for information and referral to community services for those who need help and those who provide help with food, rent, utilities and more. To find resources Text 211OK to 898211, visit the 211 website: www.211oklahoma.org, or call 2-1-1.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, helps people of all ages get the food they need with the Access Oklahoma card, an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card. SNAP is for any legal United States resident who meets the income guidelines. Call toll free at 1 (877) 760-0114 and a trained SNAP specialist will be available to handle your SNAP application process Monday-Saturday 8 AM to 8 PM. The application takes about 30 minutes!
- You can also visit www.okdhslive.org to start an application.
- Child Meal Programs
- While school is out for the summer or closed due to COVID-19 many sponsoring organizations, serving hundreds of sites across the state, provide no-cost meals to kids 18 and younger. Many sites serve both breakfast and lunch or lunch and a snack. Visit www.meals4kidsok.org to find a location near you.
- School Lunch and Breakfast Programs
- (Note: The State Dept. of Education has a pending request to USDA to provide food for children in alternative learning environments while schools are closed, waiting on approval) School Lunch and Breakfast Programs offer free and reduced-price meals at school to children with low incomes who qualify. Contact the Oklahoma Child Nutrition Office at (405) 521-3327 or visit the Oklahoma State Department of Education website: www.sde.ok.gov/child-nutrition-programs
- Regional Food Bank
- Regional Food Bank offers food and resources for 1,200 partnering agencies in central and western Oklahoma. For a list of food banks in central or western Oklahoma visit the Regional Food Bank website www.regionalfoodbank.org or call (405) 972 1111.
- Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma
- Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma offers food and resources for 450 partnering agencies in eastern Oklahoma. For a list of food banks in eastern Oklahoma visit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma website www.okfoodbank.org or call Tulsa’s office (918) 585-2800 or McAlester’s office (918) 429-7755.
- ONIE Project
- The ONIE Project is a SNAP-Education project that provides a variety of resources to stretch food dollars including hundreds of recipes that are cost-effective and time-conscious, making them realistic for busy families and families on a budget. Find recipes and other resources at www.onieproject.org