The funding freeze on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) went into effect Saturday, cutting food assistance to nearly 700,000 Oklahomans who rely on food stamps each month.
The Trump administration says it will resume SNAP food benefits but will only pay out half the amount recipients usually get. This comes after a federal judge ordered the administration Friday to figure out SNAP funding during the government shutdown as soon as possible. It could be several weeks before money hits SNAP users’ EBT cards.
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is providing regular updates on impacts of the shutdown and answering frequently asked questions, though the state agency is also facing furloughs in the coming days.
If you lost your benefits or if you’re looking for a way to support neighbors in need, here are a few resources we’ve pulled together.
If you still have a balance on your SNAP EBT card, Double Up Oklahoma allows SNAP users to earn up to $20 per day in DUO bucks on purchases of fruits and vegetables. See a list of markets where DUO bucks are accepted.
Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, at 2450 N. Harvard Ave., operates a market in Tulsa six days a week, allowing families to shop for their own groceries for free. The market is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. and the last Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon. Catholic Charities also operates six other food pantries in eastern Oklahoma and 13 mobile food pantries each month.
City Lights Tulsa distributes free food and clothing every Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 202 N. Maybelle Ave.
First Baptist Church’s Caring Center Downtown, at 420 S. Detroit Ave., operates a pantry Monday through Thursday mornings.
The Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma distributes food to hundreds of pantries in the metro area. Find a pantry in your zip code.
Food Not Bombs hosts weekly food sharings and a free personal item store every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at 202 N. Maybelle Ave. They are also collecting these items for distribution.
Food On the Move hosts weekly Community Food and Resource Festivals, and they’ve added curbside deliveries to two upcoming events. Find a schedule of upcoming giveaways.
Iron Gate, at 501 W. Archer, St., provides hot meals daily and operates a food pantry three times a week. They also pass out kid-friendly snacks at the food pantry and the community meal line. Click here to register.
Kendall Whittier Inc. operates an emergency food pantry and two community gardens. The pantry delivers groceries to residents from 11th to Pine and Lansing to Harvard. Call (918) 592-3000 to request a delivery.
Oasis Fresh Market, north Tulsa’s only grocery store, launched a fundraising campaign to provide for Tulsans who need food assistance in the coming days. Donate here or visit the store at 1725 N. Peoria Ave. to inquire about grocery giveaways and emergency food boxes.
The Tulsa Farmers’ Market is offering SNAP users $40 in community tokens to purchase food. Giveaways are limited. The market is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon at Admiral and Lewis.
The Tulsa Area United Way is providing emergency food assistance. Click here to find a location near you or call 211.
The Tulsa Opera is hosting a Do-Re-Meals food drive, encouraging patrons to drop off canned food, other dry goods, diapers and feminine hygiene products at their offices (1610 S. Boulder) or at the Nov. 15 performance of “The Sound of Music.” The drive will continue at least through the end of the year.
Tribal nations are providing temporary SNAP relief in various ways. Cherokee Nation made millions of dollars in emergency funds available to tribal citizens impacted by SNAP cuts. An online application is expected to launch Monday. Muscogee (Creek) Nation is giving eligible citizens 20 pounds of meat. Osage Nation is launching an online portal for eligible citizens to request one-time payments from the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or transition permanently to the program.
Some Tulsans are turning to Facebook to organize support for neighbors in need and to ask for help where they need it.
Some area restaurants are hosting food drives or accepting donations in exchange for free or discounted items.
Visit BeANeighbor.org to find resources in your neighborhood.
Follow the Flyer’s coverage on SNAP changes in Oklahoma.
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