Tulsa’s charitable organizations are preparing for a vast increase in need as food stamps face a Nov. 1 cutoff due to the government shutdown.
“I just really wish we could come together and provide the essential services,” said Matt Jostes, chief development director and executive vice president at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. “I understand this is part of the government and how our democracy works, but we can’t let people go without.”
According to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, an average of more than 116,000 Tulsa County residents received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly known as food stamps, each month in 2024.
Jostes said the food bank has been working around the clock since they were notified that SNAP will be suspended if the government shutdown continues into November. The food bank has already seen a significant increase in need compared to this time last year, Jostes said.
“Regardless, we are going to do something, whether we have the support of the state behind us or not,” Jostes said.
Jostes said Tulsans can help their neighbors by donating money and food, volunteering their time or hosting food drives.
“Many people don’t realize this, but we’re not a government entity,” Jostes said. “We do take part in government-funded programs and we do receive food through the USDA, but at the core of it, we’re a community-funded organization.”
Carrie Vesely Henderson, executive director of Iron Gate, a food pantry at 501 W. Archer St. in downtown Tulsa, said losing SNAP benefits will cause crises in the community. Iron Gate is already operating near capacity, but Vesely Henderson said the organization is brainstorming how to expand its reach and impact as November approaches.
“We’re trying to figure out how to feed more, serve more,” Vesely Henderson said. “We know this is going to be a crisis point for people.”
Henderson said Tulsans can help Iron Gate by providing donations, preferably in cash, and she said they always need more volunteers.
Iron Gate offers a free hot meal every day from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The organization also operates a grocery pantry Monday, Wednesday and Friday where people can shop for bread, baked goods, frozen meat and other grocery items at no cost.
“Unfortunately, I do not have the SNAP-fixing magic bullet,” Vesely Henderson said. “That’s in Washington, D.C.”
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