Hunger Free Oklahoma sends this information as posted below:
Governor Kevin Stitt’s recent interview with Stateline.org raises concerns about his understanding of hunger in Oklahoma and the role that proven anti-hunger programs play. Instead of following the data and research, the governor’s comments dismiss the realities facing hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma families and endorses the shaming of the most vulnerable Oklahomans.
In the interview, Governor Stitt made several statements that deserve clarification.
No. 1: The claim that “nobody’s going to go hungry in Oklahoma” without SNAP.
The reality is that Oklahomans are experiencing hunger even with SNAP, food banks, churches, and community organizations all working together.
Food banks and nonprofit organizations across Oklahoma continue to report historically high demand while acknowledging they cannot fully meet the need on their own. Anyone working in hunger relief can attest that charitable organizations are already stretched beyond capacity. Eliminating SNAP would dramatically increase demand that charities simply cannot absorb.
- The latest federal estimates show that Oklahoma’s food insecurity rate is nearly 17%, even while SNAP is available. (2024 USDA Household Food Security Survey)
- SNAP provides food assistance to more than 500,000 Oklahomans each month. (USDA SNAP Data Tables)
- SNAP brings approximately $103 million in federal money into Oklahoma grocery stores every month, supporting families, retailers, farmers, and local economies. (USDA SNAP Data Tables)
- In a single month, SNAP provides more food purchasing power than the annual operating budget of one of Oklahoma’s two regional food banks. (USDA SNAP Data Tables, ProPublica)
No. 2: Suggesting that increasing stigma and returning to a government commodities-only model is the right approach to addressing hunger in our country.
This is not a strategy for reducing hunger. It is a strategy for reducing program participation which will only result in more hungry Oklahomans.
SNAP is widely recognized as the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program because it allows families to purchase food through existing grocery stores while supporting local economies and preserving dignity. SNAP strengthens food systems for everyone, not just program participants, by driving economic activity for business in times of need. Eliminating SNAP and returning to an era of more burdensome, less efficient, and stigmatizing programs would not only increase hunger, but it would also devastate local economies, and eliminate jobs across the grocery and food supply chain sector.
Oklahomans are already experiencing the consequences of increased administrative barriers. Federal data shows us that over the past 18 months, average monthly SNAP participation has declined by more than 100,000 Oklahomans as eligibility rules and administrative requirements have become more restrictive, despite continued need.
The Broader Impact
Food insecurity is consistently linked to poorer educational outcomes, worse physical and mental health, reduced workforce participation, higher healthcare costs, and greater housing instability.
The governor’s comments also appear out of step with the views of Oklahoma voters.
- Our bipartisan poll of Oklahoma voters found that 83% of respondents believe government should do more to address hunger, with 73% in support of increasing funding for SNAP.
- The poll surveyed a diverse cross-section of Oklahomans across party affiliations, ZIP codes, and lived experiences, revealing strong, unified support for policymakers who prioritize ending hunger.
Oklahoma families deserve elected leaders who make policy decisions grounded in evidence rather than assumptions. Charitable organizations, churches, and food banks are essential partners in addressing hunger, but they are not designed to replace SNAP. They cannot fill that gap on their own. According to Feeding America, for every meal provided by a food bank, SNAP provides nine.
Reducing access to proven nutrition programs will not eliminate hunger. It will increase it.
Hunger Free Oklahoma is an anti-hunger organization dedicated to improving food access for all Oklahomans. HFOleverages the power of collaboration to solve hunger in Oklahoma by improving systems, policies, and practices. Learn more at HungerFreeOK.org.
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