TULSA, Okla — Oklahoma families are not going to be able to take advantage of the Summer EBT Food Assistance Program for 2025.
The program provides low-income families with $40 a week per child during the summer to put food on the table. The state of Oklahoma opted out of the federal program for the second year in a row.
2 News reached out to Governor Kevin Stitt for his reasoning in opting out of the program again.
Some of those organizations mentioned by Stitt spoke out about the decision, including the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma:
Laura Hernandez is a volunteer with La Cosecha food pantry and hopes the summer program will make a comeback down the line.
She had access to the EBT Program before the state opted out.
"I have three older kids and they eat a lot," she said. "Having to make three meals a day during the summer is tougher than when they go to school, because we then have to pay for more food." (Translation from Spanish)
Chris Bernard, CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma, said the government is responsible for helping with food insecurity.
"The Oklahoma standard includes government, we need the government to do their part," he said. "The only way they guarantee every kid gets covered in the state is for the state to run the program."
Bernard said there may still be hope to opt into the program if the state does change its mind.
"They could ask the USDA for an exception," he said. "It's a waiver saying 'we missed the deadline, but we'd still like to do it.'"
The state can choose to opt into the program for 2026 next year.
ESPAÑOL: Una versión de esta historia en Español esta disponible aquí
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