Free meals and snacks are available for Oklahoma children all summer through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Summer Feeding Program. Visit rfbo.org/summermeals to discover sites throughout the organization’s 53-county service area. A gift from Love’s Travel Stops is helping the Regional Food Bank increase access to more children in central and western Oklahoma.
“When school releases for summer, thousands of children lose access to the nutritious meals they count on. The Regional Food Bank’s Summer Feeding Program helps ensure no child has to worry where their next meal will come from,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “Good nutrition is essential not just for healthy bodies, but for bright futures.”
The Summer Feeding Program officially kicks off on Monday, June 2 and runs through Friday, Aug. 8. Nearly 130 sites will distribute free meals and snacks to children aged 18 and under. The Summer Feeding Program is a federal nutrition program managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and distributed through the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Summer Feeding meals are offered as congregate meals, meaning the meals have to be consumed on-site, or as grab and go, where the meal can be taken home or consumed off-site, depending on the location. In Washita County, meals and snacks are available at the following sites:
5 Loaves 2 Fish – First Baptist Church of Burns Flat (Grab and Go) 214 SH 44 Burns Flat, Okla. 73624 Noon to 1 p.m. June 2, June 16, June 30, July 14, July 28
Love’s is partnering with the Regional Food Bank’s Summer Feeding Program for the second straight year to help provide even more meals to Oklahoma children.
“After the success of last year’s Summer Feeding Program, it was an easy decision for Love’s to participate again in order to support some of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable residents - children who rely on free and reduced lunches during the school year,” said Jenny Love Meyer, chief culture officer of Love’s. “Last summer, we were able to support the Regional Food Bank and this program by funding nearly 500,000 meals. We believe ensuring children have access to food is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in their future and are excited to be able to help again this year.”
Summer meals are also provided with support from the USDA. Meals will be provided equally and without charge to all children aged 18 and younger, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
To file a complaint of discrimination, call 800-795-3272 or write to: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Director Office of Adjudication 1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
About the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is leading the fight against hunger in 53 counties in central and western Oklahoma and envisions a state where no one goes hungry. Founded in 1980, the Regional Food Bank is the state’s largest domestic hunger-relief 501(c)(3) nonprofit that distributes food through a network of community- based partner agencies and schools. The majority of people served by the Regional Food Bank are chronically hungry children, seniors living on fixed incomes and hardworking families struggling to make ends meet. The Regional Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks. To join the fight to end hunger, visit rfbo.org.