Marlow and Duncan included in OK Summer Free Meals and Snacks Program

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Summer Feeding Program Provides Free Meals and Snacks to Stephens County Children

Love’s Travel Stops donation will help serve children across central and western Oklahoma

(OKLAHOMA CITY) – May 29, 2024 – Free summer meals and snacks will be provided to children up to the age of 18 starting May 28 through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Summer Feeding Program. Visit rfbo.org/summermeals to discover sites throughout the organization’s 53-county service area. A donation from Love’s Travel Stops is helping to ensure children have access to nutritious food during the summer months.

"It is vital that children have access to nutritious food throughout the summer months so they can thrive and grow,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank.

The Summer Feeding Program will officially kick off at sites May 28 and run through Aug. 9. The Summer Feeding Program is a federal nutrition program managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and distributed through the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Summer Feeding meals are offered as congregate meals, meaning the meals have to be consumed on-site, or as grab-and-go, the meal can be taken home or consumed off-site, depending on the location. In Stephens County, meals and snacks are available at the following sites:

Garland Smith Public Library (Congregate Meals)

702 W. Main St.

Marlow, Okla. 73055

580-658-5354

Begins June 10

Monday through Friday: 12:30 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Elm Terrace Apartments (Grab and Go)

206 E. Elm Ave.

Duncan, Okla. 74533

580-467-3231

June 3 through Aug. 1, 2024

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: Noon to 12:30 p.m.

All meals and snacks for the Summer Feeding Program are prepared and packaged by volunteers in Hope's Kitchen, the Regional Food Bank's production kitchen. Volunteers are needed throughout the summer to help meet the demand. To volunteer, visit rfbo.org/volunteer.

Love’s Travel Stops is partnering with the Regional Food Bank on its Summer Feeding Program to provide access to nutritious food to nourish children throughout central and western Oklahoma.

“Love’s is passionate about supporting the youth of Oklahoma and believes no child should go hungry in our state,” said Jenny Love Meyer, chief culture officer at Love’s. “When the Regional Food Bank reached out saying there would now be a gap this summer for kids’ access to adequate nutritional food, we did not think twice about giving. Kids are a vulnerable demographic in our state, especially in rural areas where access to quality food can be challenging. We’re grateful for this Summer Feeding program and confident it will make a difference during the 10 weeks of summer when kids do not have access to free or reduced lunches they are accustomed to at school.”

Thanks to Love's donation, the Regional Food Bank will provide Summer Feeding meals and snacks at more than 100 sites across central and western Oklahoma.

“This is the first summer in four years that households with children will not receive Summer EBT cards to help pay for groceries,” Dykstra said. “We are very grateful to the support from Love’s Travel Stops to help us ensure we are reaching as many children as possible.”

Summer meals are provided through support from the USDA. Meals will be provided equally and without charge to all children age 18 and younger, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

To file a complaint of discrimination, call 800-795-3272 or write to:

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Director

Office of Adjudication 1400 Independence Ave.

SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

About the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is leading the fight against hunger in 53 counties in central and western Oklahoma and envisions a state where no one goes hungry. Founded in 1980, the Regional Food Bank is the state’s largest domestic hunger-relief 501(c)(3) nonprofit that distributes food through a network of community-based partner agencies and schools. The majority of people served by the Regional Food Bank are chronically hungry children, seniors living on fixed incomes and hardworking families struggling to make ends meet. The Regional Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks. To join the fight to end hunger, visit rfbo.org.