Choctaw Nation Launches Summer Food Initiatives

Choctaw Nation Launches Summer Food Assistance Programs for Local Families

DURANT, Oklahoma — In response to the ongoing challenges posed by food insecurity, the Choctaw Nation has introduced two summer food assistance initiatives aimed at providing critical support to children and families while schools remain closed. These programs are designed to alleviate hunger and promote health amongst the community’s youth during the summer months, a time when many families struggle to maintain adequate nutrition.

The first initiative, the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program, offers qualifying families per child per month for grocery assistance through early August. This direct financial support is intended for families whose children are enrolled in local school districts within the Choctaw Nation, attending grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. To be eligible for the program, families must meet one or more of the following criteria:

– Children must be enrolled in a school district within the Choctaw Nation.
– Families must be receiving free or reduced-cost meals at school.
– Households with children enrolled in charter or home schooling need to have a member receiving specific state or federal benefits.
– Families involved in the foster care system may also qualify.
– Additionally, specific income guidelines may need to be met.

Families interested in applying for the Summer EBT program can do so conveniently through an online application, available at Healthy Together.

In conjunction with the EBT program, the Choctaw Nation is also offering a Summer Food Service Program. This initiative provides free grab-and-go meals for all children under the age of 18, regardless of income level or tribal affiliation. By making these meals universally accessible, the organization aims to ensure that no child faces hunger throughout the summer months.

The grab-and-go meals will be available at several designated locations and times throughout the Choctaw Nation:

– CNO Community Center, Antlers: Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
– CNO Community Center, Atoka: Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
– Echo Warehouse Building, Durant: Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
– CNO Community Center, Hugo: Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
– CNO Community Center, Idabel: Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Shelly Rector, Senior Director of Health Services Food and Nutrition Programs for the Choctaw Nation, emphasized the importance of these programs in a recent statement. “These initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to meeting the basic needs of our children and families,” Rector noted. “No child should go hungry during the summer months, and we are proud to make these resources available to help fill that gap.”

The Choctaw Nation’s proactive approach to addressing food insecurity serves as a pivotal resource for families, particularly during a time when the need for accessible nutritional support is more pressing than ever. As the community comes together to support its youth, these summer programs not only provide sustenance but also promote overall well-being throughout the Choctaw Nation.