Oklahoma opts out of federal summer food program for kids for the second year in a row

Oklahoma has once again opted out of a federal summer food program for kids.

The Summer EBT program adds money to families' EBT cards if their kid gets free or reduced lunches during the school year.

Oklahoma already turned it down this year, but Thursday is the deadline to opt in for 2025.

In a statement sent to FOX23, Governor Stitt's office said the state won't opt in.

"The State of Oklahoma is fully capable of serving children and students without a federal program that has floundered in other states. The Biden-Harris handout isn’t solving child hunger in 2025. Meanwhile, Governor Stitt delivered for families by signing the grocery tax elimination bill , saving Oklahomans an average of about $800 per year at the grocery store.

Oklahomans don’t look to the government for answers, we look to our communities. We’re confident in our existing community partners, agencies, and initiatives that are bridging the gap, such as OSDE’s Summer Food Program, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Summer Feeding Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Be A Neighbor Initiative, and others who serve Oklahomans with nutritious meals year round."

The Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma said they're disappointed in the decision in a Facebook post.

The food bank spoke to FOX23 at the beginning of August about how many children they served over the summer which exceeded the previous summer.

The food bank celebrated serving at least 200,000 children over the summer, said CEO Jeff Marlow.

"Our record prior to this summer was 85,000," he said. "With Oklahoma not renewing the EBT for this summer ...it made Summer Feeding even that much more important."