Restore OKC sends this information as posted below:
Oklahoma City, OK (October 31, 2025) In response to hundreds of Northeast Oklahoma City families set to lose access to SNAP food benefits starting November 1, Restore OKC is activating an emergency grocery assistance fund to help bridge the gap. The local nonprofit – known for its long-term investment in food access, workforce development, and neighborhood stability – is calling for matching donations to expand immediate relief initiated by local organizations and partners in light of current events.
An initial $10,000 contribution from Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help has grown into a $40,000 match. Funds will provide grocery gift cards via tiered protocol to families in the 73111 ZIP code, one of the city’s most food-insecure zones. Under typical circumstances more than 65 percent of youth under 18 in this community live below the poverty threshold according to Restore OKC, which underscores the need to support residents in advance of the gap effective November 1.
“This is one of those moments when our neighbors need us to move quickly and collectively,” said Caylee Dodson, Executive Director of Restore OKC. “For many families, SNAP benefits are the difference between stability and crisis. So, even if those benefits get reinstated they will be delayed, and we cannot let families go hungry while the system resets. We want to meet the immediate need while also strengthening the systems that make our communities resilient for the long run.
Program Overview:
Families from the 73111 community can come to The Market at EastPoint on their normal food stamp distribution date — 1st, 5th, or 10th — of the month to get the following until funds run out:
- Households receiving $0–$500 in SNAP benefits will receive a $100 gift card.
- Households receiving $500 or more in SNAP benefits will receive a $200 gift card.
“We know this won’t solve everything, and we hope it doesn’t need to. But, it will allow families to purchase perishable items and stretch other resources,” said Co-Director Jonathan Veal.
Gift cards can be redeemed at The Market at Eastpoint, a move organizers say helps both residents and the grocery store itself, which relies on business from community neighbors but more than 60% of them use SNAP to purchase groceries. We want to meet the immediate need while also strengthening the systems that make our communities resilient for the long run. Canned food drives can help meet the short-term need, but even that is insufficient and does not help at all if we lose our grocery stores in the interim. We are calling this effort a way to “win the battle and the war.”
The battle is immediate hunger.
The war is economic resilience.
With $15,000 available daily, the program can serve up to 150 families per day. If total funds reach $90,000 through matching contributions, Restore OKC could serve as many as 900 families during three distribution events on November 1, 5, and 10 — or until funds are depleted. The program could extend to those in 73105 and 73117 depending on the level of support.
Community Coordination
Restore OKC is partnering with local leaders and organizations to identify families and coordinate outreach. The organization has also reached out to additional donors for expanded match commitments.
When this crisis is resolved—as we hope it soon will be—any remaining funds, which we do not anticipate, will roll into our Food Justice Fund for moments just like this.
How to Contribute
Individuals, businesses, and churches can make tax-deductible donations or pledge matching funds at https://www.restoreokc.org/.
Restore OKC emphasizes that the effort aligns with its mission to restore health, stability, and opportunity in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by poverty, specifically 73111, 73105 and 73117.
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