TULSA, Okla. — With public schools officially out for the summer, a critical safety net has vanished for thousands of families across Oklahoma.
To bridge the gap, the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma launched its most ambitious summer feeding operation to date on Monday, aiming to combat a steep rise in regional childhood food insecurity.
The stakes are exceptionally high in Oklahoma, where roughly 60% of students rely on free or reduced-cost meals during the academic year. When campuses close for the summer months, families are suddenly forced to absorb the cost of up to ten additional meals per week per child — a financial strain heavily amplified by ongoing inflation and high grocery costs…