With SNAP Uncertainty Here are Community Food Resources Available Across Central Oklahoma

With the uncertainty of when SNAP benefits will be dispersed, here is a list of Oklahoma community resources:

Edmond:

• Central Pantry: Nigh University Center Room 151 (405) 974-3456
  Food pantry for UCO students open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
• Hope Center of Edmond: 1251 N. Broadway (405) 348-1340
  Food and resources for Edmond and Arcadia residents, open Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Project 66: 2612 S. Kelly (405) 341-1353
  Food pantry with a large service area, including towns like Guthrie and Meridian. 
• Samaritan House: 42 E. 9th St. (405) 216-7554
  Food assistance and toiletries, open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Oklahoma City:

• BritVil Food Pantry: 8717 N. Western Ave. (405) 286-3700
  Open Monday-Friday, 9-11 a.m. Serves ZIP codes 73105, 73114, 73120, and 73131.
• First Baptist Church Downtown: 1201 N. Robinson Ave. (405) 232-4255
  Food assistance Mondays, 4-6 p.m. Serves ZIP codes 73102, 73103, 73104, 73105, 73106, 73107, 73108, and 73118.
• Jesus House: 1335 W. Sheridan Ave. (405) 232-7164
  Hot meals daily from 4-5 p.m. and food baskets on Wednesdays at 8 a.m.
• Reaching Our City (ROC): 7710 NW 10th St. (405) 440-9994
  Hot meals on Wednesdays from 4-5:30 p.m.
• Salvation Army Center of Hope: 1001 N. Pennsylvania Ave. (405) 246-1060
  Daily community meal at 4:30 p.m.
• Skyline Urban Ministry: 500 SE 15th St. (405) 632-2644The
  Food Resource Center is open Monday-Friday and on the third Saturday of each month.
• Urban Mission: 3737 N. Portland Ave. (405) 943-0079
  Drive-thru pantry open Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9-11:30 a.m.

Norman:

• Food and Shelter: 201 Reed Ave. (405) 360-4954
  Free breakfast daily at 8:30 a.m., lunch at 11 a.m.; pantry open Tuesday-Saturday.
• Salvation Army of Cleveland County: 318 E. Hayes St. (405) 364-9910
  Hot meal served daily at 5 p.m.

Midwest City:

• Mission Mid-Del Master’s Market: 5717 E. Reno Ave. (405) 737-2010
  Offers food, clothing, and household items to residents in eastern Oklahoma County. Available Tuesday and Friday beginning at 7:30 a.m.

An extensive list of food and resources in the OKC metro area can be obtained at The Center, located in Thatcher 106.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture had planned to suspend SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 in the wake of the government shutdown, before two federal judges ruled on Friday that benefits must go out. On Monday, the Trump administration said SNAP will be partially funded for the month of November. 

According to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, over 684,600 Oklahomans currently receive SNAP benefits. Existing funds on EBT cards have carried over, but it is unclear when new funds will be dispersed, or if recipients will receive the full amount. The process for loading funds onto EBT cards can take weeks. 

Food pantries in Oklahoma have been seeing “a very large and quick uptick in people who have never come to a food pantry before,” said Stacy Dykstra, CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, during a press conference on Wednesday. 

According to Chris Sperry, Executive Director of the HOPE Center of Edmond, the increase in assistance is also being felt in Edmond.

“We have already seen an increase in demand by getting more orders put in,” said Sperry.

If you are looking for a way to help, there is more you can do than donate. Sperry says that while they are always in need of monetary or food donations, they also need volunteers to sort and package goods.