Latest news with #RegionalFoodBankofOklahoma
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
APMEX raises $54,000 to Fight Hunger in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- APMEX, a leading national precious metals retailer, proudly supported the Regional Food Bank's mission of ending hunger through its annual Fun Week celebration, held May 5–9. The week brought together employees for spirited activities that combined fun with philanthropy, driving meaningful support for the local community. Throughout the week, APMEX hosted engaging in-office events to raise funds and awareness, including raffles, food sales, a basketball shootout, dunk tank, video game competitions, a cornhole tournament, and more. These events encouraged team camaraderie and a shared commitment to giving back. Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of its team, APMEX raised $54,000 to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The week of giving culminated in hands-on volunteerism as numerous APMEX employees participated in the Stamp Out Hunger food drive on Saturday, May 10. This annual event, organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers, is the largest single-day food drive in the country. APMEX team members volunteered at local post offices, helping to sort and process food donations. In total, APMEX volunteers helped sort approximately 39,960 pounds of food, providing an estimated 33,300 meals to Oklahoma families facing food insecurity. "Every year, I'm inspired by the passion our team brings to Fun Week—not just in having fun, but in showing up for our community. Raising $54,000 and helping provide over 33,000 meals is a testament to what we can achieve together." said Ken Lewis, CEO of APMEX. APMEX is honored to continue supporting the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and encourages other local businesses to join the effort to fight hunger year-round. About APMEX APMEX LLC, part of Bullion International Group, is one of the nation's largest online retailers of precious metals. It offers a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products to customers worldwide. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, APMEX is committed to excellence in business and community engagement. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Bullion International Group
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma kids in need can get $120 for groceries this summer — but only on tribal lands
For the second year in a row, Oklahoma's government will not participate in a federal summer food program worth $120 per eligible child. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's SUN Bucks program, also known as Summer EBT, doles out funds to state and tribal programs, that in turn give residents preloaded cards to buy food while children are on summer break. Most states have accepted the federal funds and will be providing EBT cards that are worth $120 for the entire summer. Children who qualify for free and reduced school lunches are automatically eligible to receive the funds. While Oklahoma will not take part in the program, a handful of tribal nations in the state will, meaning some Oklahoma families may still be eligible for the funds. Gov. Kevin Stitt said in 2024 that he turned down the funds because Oklahoma was 'fully capable of serving children and students without a federal program that has floundered in other states.' He also cited the elimination of Oklahoma's grocery tax as another reason why the state wouldn't be accepting those federal funds. Oklahoma recently eliminated the collection of a 4.5% sales tax on most groceries. Only 10 states still require sales tax to be collected on groceries, but most U.S. states that have eliminated their grocery tax also participate in Summer EBT. 'Oklahomans don't look to the government for answers, we look to our communities,' a statement from the governor's office said last year ahead of the 2025 participation deadline. Stitt named several programs that provide food year-round, including the Oklahoma State Department of Education's Summer Food Program, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Summer Feeding Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Be A Neighbor Initiative, which is a list of community resources. The state Education Department's Summer Food Program provides bagged lunches that can be picked up at sites like parks, schools, playgrounds, gymnasiums, community centers, churches, apartment complexes or day camps. Despite the efforts made by the state, nonprofits and tribes, and despite agriculture being one of the pillars of the state's economic output, Oklahoma remains one of the worst states when it comes to food security. According to Feed the Children, Oklahoma ranks fifth when it comes to the percentage of households that do not have access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. "The state of childhood hunger in Oklahoma has not gotten any better," said Chris Bernard, president and CEO of the nonprofit Hunger Free Oklahoma. "It's still between one-in-four and one-in-five kids, and what we're actually seeing now is pressures on families are growing. Things cost more and wages haven't kept up with those costs." And with the Trump administration again in power, there is likely to be significant changes to the federal government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which has historically been known as "food stamps." A Fox News report this week quoted officials saying they have a "massive plan" to reform SNAP in light of Trump's quest to slash government spending. "There are fears of everything getting cut right now," Bernard said with a nervous chuckle. The administration has yet to provide details about how it plans to reform SNAP, but reformers have pushed for increasing work requirements and forcing states to cover a percentage of the benefit cost. Oklahoma residents currently receive over $1 billion each year to buy food, so even a 10% matching requirement would mean the state government would have to find $100 million annually. "States that tend to need these benefits the most also tend to be the states that spend the least on social services and cut budgets rather than increase them," Bernard said. Only 12 states will not participate this year, including Oklahoma. However, five Oklahoma tribes have signed up for the program: Cherokee Nation Chickasaw Nation Choctaw Nation Muscogee Creek Nation Otoe-Missouria Tribe The tribes can only provide Summer EBT to children living inside their respective reservations or jurisdictional areas, which mostly includes eastern and southern Oklahoma. Tribal membership is not required to access the program, however, so any student who is eligible for free and reduced lunches at schools within tribal boundaries can receive funds. "If people want to make sure every kid in Oklahoma has access, not just kids who live on tribal lands, they need to be calling their state legislators and telling them it's something they want to see," Bernard said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma tribes offer summer EBT after state declines funds again
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma food banks impacted by federal budget cuts to food assistance programs
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Food banks across the state are feeling the impact of federal budget cuts to food assistance programs. 'Literally, we've seen less food,' said Stacy Dykstra, the CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. 'So, it's really unsettling… When we lose these resources, it directly impacts people facing hunger in our state.' LOCAL NEWS: 'One of the most impactful Oklahomans ever': Public service held for David Boren The U.S. Agriculture Department slashed two federal programs that spent over $1 billion annually to help schools and food banks buy food from local farms and ranches. 'They're [food banks are] taking some of the hit now, but it's going to be over time that it builds, because they already have higher demand than they've ever had,' said Chris Bernard, the CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma. In a statement to KFOR earlier this month, the USDA said: '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 'What that's going to do is make them [food banks] have to scramble to try and raise more money,' said Bernard. 'But honestly, there's only so much money you can raise as a charity, and so you're not going to be able to fully fill that gap.' LOCAL NEWS: Okla. Innovation Expansion Program opens applications March 31 – April 11, 2025 The cuts come as Oklahoma is ranked the 6th hungriest state in the nation. More than 15 percent of households across the state are considered food insecure. 'We've got to support our most vulnerable Oklahomans, who are, you know, falling on hard times and need a little support now and then,' said Dykstra. Bernard said while the loss of the programs is 'significant,' it's 'not world ending.' However, he is worried more federal programs could eventually be cut as well, leading to a bigger issue. 'It will be a pain point, but something that you can try and kind of figure out how to address over time,' said Bernard. 'The problem is, it's not in a vacuum, and there are lots of other things happening that are putting more pressures on households and reducing the amount of resources going to folks in need. And that's where you're going to see the system start to crumble.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
