June 8, 2016
By Paul Joseph, News Director
Summer Food Programs are in full swing in several communities in Western Oklahoma.
For thousands of children, the end of school means months of wondering whether or not they will have enough food to eat. Thanks to support from the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Oklahoma Department of Education and various locations and school districts all over the area, children under 18 can receive nutritious meals and/or snacks weekdays from June 1 through July 31.
The food programs are similar to those during the school year according to the Summer Food Program Provider in Elk City, Help, Inc.
Kate Helleen, Help, Inc’s executive director says the program in Elk City is also sponsored by the Food Resource Center, the Elk City Chamber and school district and all children are invited to enjoy the free lunch at the Elk City middle school cafeteria on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and there’s no need to sign up or apply. The final day for service in Elk City is June 23.
However, other programs in western Oklahoma have different start and end dates. Other communities involved in the Summer Food Program include Clinton, Arapaho, Leedy and Altus.
Helleen says Clinton’s program actually hires off duty, school cafeteria cooks to provide hot meals for Clinton children in their summer program.
She says last year’s Elk City program was a success and she wants to have an even greater impact this year.
Since the program began in 2002, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma has sponsored the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), through a partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Oklahoma Department of Education.
Statewide during the summer of 2015, the program served nearly 6,500 children at 93 sites, providing more than 242,000 meals and snacks to children over the summer.
Helleen says her group wants to do more this year than just provide a nourishing meal.
She says her group, Help, Inc., is always looking for volunteers to help assist the program in Elk City.
For more information on both the Summer Feeding Program and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, check out www.regionalfoodbank.org.
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