Tribe joins summer food program, expanding eligibility for thousands of Oklahoma kids

The Muscogee Nation is signing up for a federal program to help families pay for groceries in the summer after Gov. Kevin Stitt rejected the assistance statewide last month.

The decision greatly expands the number of Oklahoma children who will be eligible for the aid, which is meant to make sure students don’t go hungry while school is out for the summer. Tribal officials estimated 106,000 children living within the Muscogee Nation reservation — which includes much of Tulsa — will now qualify for the benefits, regardless of whether or not they belong to a tribal nation.

Muscogee leaders went into “lightning speed” in recent weeks to figure out a way to offer the federal assistance, said Katura Bunner, who directs the tribe’s Women, Infants and Children program.

“All of our efforts have been under a sense of urgency to make this happen for our families in eastern Oklahoma,” she said.

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Families whose children qualify for free or reduced lunches can receive up to $120 per child to pay for food, divided into three $40 payments in June, July and August. The money is dispersed onto debit-style cards that can be used to cover groceries.

Other Oklahoma tribal nations have also opted into USDA food program

The Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Osage nations also have opted into the U.S. Department of Agriculture program after Stitt announced the state as a whole would not join. His decision drew immediate criticism in a state where one in five children lives in poverty.

The Cherokee and Chickasaw nations will help the Muscogee Nation roll out the benefits in time for this summer, Bunner said. The final details of how the collaboration will work are still being sorted out, she said.

“It’s been day and night, with all of us trying to collaborate in the best way,” she said.

The program will be funded with $14.7 million from the USDA, $1.9 million from the Muscogee Nation and $1 million from Hunger Free Oklahoma, a nonprofit focused on reducing food insecurity.

Thomasene Yahola Osborn, the second speaker for the Muscogee Nation National Council, sponsored a series of legislative measures that opened the door for the tribe to provide the assistance.

More: Fourth Oklahoma tribe offering food assistance for children after state opts out

“I thought it was important for us as a nation to step in and make sure these eligible children on our reservation have a program that meets their nutritional needs throughout the summer,” Yahola Osborn said in a written statement.

Stitt joined several other GOP governors in deciding to reject the aid. He questioned how the program would be administered and contended Oklahoma already provided other types of assistance to help families pay for food.

However, at least one state leader who initially refused to opt in has decided to reverse course. Nebraska’s governor said Monday that he would allow his state to join the food program after all.

Molly Young covers Indigenous affairs. Reach her at mollyyoung@gannett.com or 405-347-3534.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thousands more Oklahomans qualify for summer food aid after tribe signs on