Instead of a replenished balance Nov. 1 on their EBT cards, many Oklahomans will instead see empty cupboards.
That is because federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP, or the old food stamps program – is one of the casualties of the government shutdown.
Worse still, according to a press release from the Oklahoma Human Services department, it is unclear whether recipients will be able to access any funds left on the cards after Oct. 31.
As of May, some 696,842 Oklahomans relied on SNAP for some or all their food supplies.
In response to the anticipated lapse in benefits, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma issued a statement that it has sourced as much food as possible to prepare for increased demand.
Watonga Public School superintendent Kyle Hilterbran said that the elementary works with the Regional Food Bank to provide backpacks with meals for the weekends to students who signed up at the beginning of the school year.
However, Hilterbran said the district has contacted the organization to find out how many more meals it could provide, should they be needed.
In Watonga, Opportunities, Inc. is a Food Bank partner.
Executive director Carla Flynn said their organization has been watching the unfolding shutdown and had prepared as best it could. Their funding is predominantly federal with some state funds as well.
Flynn said the regional food bank has its limits and when she places an order every two weeks, there is no way to know what will arrive. And Opportunities has already seen an increase in requests for assistance.
Because it is federally funded, there is traditionally some paperwork required for assistance. “But we don’t want to see anyone turned away,” Flynn said.
The funding gap at the not-for-profit can be bridged temporarily by use of unrestricted dollars on hand. Those come from monetary donations from the public and sales from the thrift store inside the Opportunities building. That money can be used to bulk up the food pantry.
There is also a senior nutrition program that delivers clients a food box once a month.
When a client receives food, Flynn said the focus is on providing shelf stable goods that can be used for multiple meals, for instance rice and beans. Meat is also available in limited quantities and recently turkeys have been distributed. Not only do the birds form the center of holiday meals but may also provide multiple meals when stretched carefully, she said.
Opportunities also assists clients with access to other services such as help paying for medicine.
“We try to have them access dual services,” Flynn said. “We are blessed that we have this resource here.”
According to Tulsa Public Radio, tribal nations are pulling together resources, including existing food aid, to help people avoid missing meals.
Additionally, Watonga High School has a nutrition center for student athletes who need food, usually after games and workouts. Hilterbran also said the Oklahoma State School Boards Association was working on ways it could help assist students with meals should the shutdown be prolonged.