Latest news with #HungerFreeOklahoma
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hunger Free Oklahoma opposes shifting SNAP costs to states
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma could have to pay hundreds of millions of dollars if Congress moves forward with plans to shift food stamp costs to states. For the first time, the U.S. House is considering making states cover part of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP. States could be required to pay up to a 25% match. 'In current numbers could be as high as $475 million total in cost shifted to the state at a time where, you know, our state does not have that money,' said Chris Bernard, CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma. Bernard believes the state would be forced to make cuts to the program. 'We don't know if that means they would just cut entire categories of people off the program. We don't know if that means they just cut how much benefits are. There's a lot of unknowns, but any of them is disaster. People are struggling with the levels we have of SNAP now,' said Bernard. He says 600,000 families rely on SNAP benefits every year in order to put food on the table and these proposed changes would hurt those families. 'Way more people will be making decisions between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table. You're talking about parents skipping meals or choosing not to take crucial medications for their health to make sure their kids can eat,' said Bernard. Pressure would also be put on charitable organizations like food banks and pantries, which are already having a hard time meeting needs. Local nonprofit offers help after grandmother's SNAP benefits are stolen 'They are being forced to change rules of how often you can visit, they are being forced to maybe limit where they didn't limit before and if you add on top of that, it's a recipe for disaster,' said Bernard. Bernard also adding that these cuts could cost the state more in the long run. 'They lead to worse health outcomes, they lead to the investments we've made in education being completely pointless because hungry kids can't learn,' said Bernard. Hunger Free Oklahoma says it could also have an impact on other areas too. 'School meals because kids who are on SNAP automatically qualify for free or reduced lunch, it will also potentially impact Title I funding and federal dollars that flow to education that way, it will impact Medicaid eligibility,' said Bernard. Hunger Free Oklahoma encourages you to take action and tell those in Congress how you feel. News 4 reached out to Oklahoma Human Services about the proposed cuts and was sent a statement: 'Oklahoma Human Services is working with our federal partners to learn more about any potential effects on our programs. We will continue to communicate with partners and clients as we learn more.' Oklahoma Human Services Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Advocates gather to help end hunger across Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Dozens of advocates gathered on Thursday to push for policies to help end hunger across the state. 'I think what we see is a crisis on the horizon if we don't take the right steps and protect what we already have in place,' said Chris Bernard, the CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma. This effort comes as Oklahoma consistently ranks as one of the hungriest states in the country. According to the U.S. The Department of Agriculture, Oklahoma is the sixth hungriest state in the nation and approximately 686,000 Oklahomans received food assistance in 2024. LOCAL NEWS: Local students use STEAM project to adapt toys for kids with disabilities Carrie Vesley Henderson sees the problem first hand every day. She's the Executive Director of Iron Gate Tulsa, a soup kitchen and food pantry. 'We're seeing more people than we have in the past,' said Vesely Henderson. 'I think the economy is driving a lot of that. I think there's a lot of uncertainty.' There are a number of hunger-related bills on the table this session the advocates are asking lawmakers to pass. HB 1111: Requires Oklahoma Human Services to fully implement the Elderly and Disabled Simplified Application Process. This program reduces bureaucracy for older adults and people with certain disabilities when they apply for, and recertify for, SNAP benefits. HB 1575: Requires the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to explore creating a streamlined, unified benefits application for multiple benefits programs. SB 190: Reauthorizes the option to donate a tax refund to a food bank. SB 806: Creates the Food is Medicine Act, to direct the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to seek coverage for nutrition supports using the Medicaid program. The measure also directs the Department of Education to provide technical assistance to schools for Farm to School grants. 'Overall, it's about making sure that we support the whole system,' said Bernard. 'So, that means making sure that programs like SNAP and school meals are protected and that we maximize what we can do with them as a state to support people who need access to them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Not what we voted for': Programs funneling farmers' food to schools, food banks cut
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Federal funds impacting Oklahoma farmers, schools and food banks are on the chopping block. The U.S. Agriculture Department has cut two federal programs that spent over $1 billion annually to help schools and food banks buy food from local farms and ranches. USDA can confirm it has provided notice to States, Territories and Tribes that the FY 2025 funding previously announced for the pandemic-era Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement (LFSCC) and pandemic-era Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program (LFPA25) is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification. These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance. AMS will resume processing claims for payment for LFPA and LFPA Plus for activities accruing prior to and after January 20, 2025. USDA Spokesperson Hunger Free Oklahoma expects Oklahoma to lose up to $30 million in funding. 'Really the hardest hit area is your local growers and food hubs that help sort of consolidate the products into one place that the schools and food banks can buy from,' said Chris Bernard, CEO and president, Hunger Free Oklahoma. Christina Farris, a farmer in Fort Cobb, says she is blown away by the decision. 'The first thing we thought was they just want to get rid of all the small farmers and just have mega farms because that's not what we voted for,' said Christina Farris, owner of CF2 Cattle Company and Cowgirl Beef. The OKC Food Hub, which works directly with the farmers, schools and food bank also weighed in on the impacts. House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September, though prospects unclear in Senate 'Farmers will not have an investment in their farms to get food to communities and schoolchildren like starting in June, they would have had like, you know, X amount of dollars promised to their farm, now they don't,' said Jenna Moore, OKC Food Hub. Oklahoma is luckier than other areas, the state has a similar program that's not going away. 'We still get to provide food for our kids and to share our knowledge and to reach out into those communities and start those conversations on maybe they want to be a small pork farmer, maybe they want to grow some tomatoes,' said Farris. The state legislature has allocated $3.2 million for the Local Food for School Program, but making up those federal dollars, close to $30 million may be impossible. 'It's just such a blessing to live in a state that supportive of AG, I guess our federal government needs to get it together,' said Farris. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry sent News 4 the following statement. As we learn about changes to federal programs, ODAFF will continue to work with stakeholders and partners at all levels to explore opportunities that benefit both local producers and Oklahoma consumers. Interest in local foods is at an all-time high, and it is a priority for our agency to further market opportunities for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers and access to those options for all Oklahomans. ODAFF The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma also sent a statement. We are deeply disappointed by the recent decision to cancel the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program (LFPA). This funding has enabled us to purchase and distribute fresh, nutritious food to the communities we serve. The loss of this program will significantly impact our ability to meet the increasing demand for food assistance, especially as more families face food insecurity. We urge lawmakers and stakeholders to reconsider this decision and support critical programs that ensure no one goes hungry. Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Officials encourage you to reach out to your elected officials in D.C. about the cuts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed federal SNAP cuts could cost Oklahoma $300 million a year
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Congress is in the early stages of budget discussions and one proposal could leave hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans at risk. The House's recent budget proposal directs the Agriculture Committee to cut programs in its jurisdiction by $230 billion through 2034, with the funding for the nation's largest food security program, SNAP, particularly at risk. 'These funds are crucial to families and communities and while it may save some funds for the budget in the short term, it has serious long term impacts,' said Jessica Dietrich, director of government relations and public policy, Hunger Free Oklahoma. DHS wants you to use the right app to protect your SNAP benefits from thieves Hunger Free Oklahoma says about 700,000 Oklahomans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Though specific approaches to the cuts have not been announced, the suggested reductions could decrease benefits by at least 20%. 'Or $300 million less in SNAP benefits in Oklahoma each year, which is significant. We see about $1.5 billion in SNAP dollars circulating in Oklahoma each year,' said Dietrich. Dietrich says that reduction would leave families in tough decisions. 'Do I spend money on the medication that I need? Do I skip meals so my kids can eat? And we don't want to put any Oklahomans in that situation,' said Dietrich. Advocates say the cuts wouldn't just hurt families, but also Oklahoma's economy. 'If you see a big drop in that revenue, that's greatly going to impact grocery stores and the number of people that they can employ and often what products they can offer,' said Dietrich. Hunger Free Oklahoma is urging Oklahoma lawmakers to reconsider. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) says it's still too early to know exactly what will happen. 'It's a very broad blueprint to say here are the general things we wanted, there are no specifics that are in this at all, the next step is to start to do some specifics,' said Sen. Lankford. Sen. Lankford says it will be several months until getting to those specifics. Hunger Free Oklahoma encourages you to call your elected officials and voice any concerns you may have. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
