Oklahoma Declines Federal Summer EBT Program For 2nd Year, Some Hunger Agencies Feeling The Stress

For the second year in a row, Oklahoma will not participate in the federal Summer EBT program in 2025.

The program helps to feed children over the summer break. The governor says Oklahoma doesn't look to the government for answers; it looks to the community, but agencies like "Hunger Free Oklahoma' say not participating in the program puts a strain on their resources.

President and CEO Chris Bernard says 2 to 3 times as many people are showing up at summer meal distribution sites across the state compared to previous summers.

Gov. Kevin Stitt says existing food agencies and partners in Oklahoma are already helping to combat food insecurity.

He also says cutting the grocery tax is helping families save about 800 dollars a year on their grocery bills.

However, Bernard says a different approach must be taken to see big changes on the hunger front.

“Charity is a crucial piece of the solution. But they do not have the resources, nor can they ever have the resources at the scale to really address the job. The issue of food insecurity really the community partners are there to connect to those federal programs for long-term sustainability,” said Bernard.

Bernard says the summer EBT program would have cost the state about 5 million dollars and, in return, received around 50 million dollars in federal funding.