Before the COVID-19 pandemic and oil/natural gas crises, records show that food insecurity affected one in six Oklahoma households.
Now, about 41% of mothers with children ages 12 and under reported household insecurity since the pandemic began, according to early national survey data analyzed by the Brookings Institute.
Food insecurity is a health risk linked to costly and preventable chronic diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease, cancer and stroke.
At a recent meeting, the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Board of Directors approved up to $1 million to be awarded for short-term projects to address food insecurity.
The coronavirus pandemic has shown that prevention is more important than ever for public health. Increasing access to healthy food is key to giving Oklahomans the tools to make healthy choices.
TSET is one of the state’s largest funders of prevention and works to address long- term needs and encourage healthy choices. Health disparities such as lack of buying power or lack of access to healthy foods can limit the choices of some Oklahomans.
To help close the gaps, TSET is seeking to partner with nonprofit groups, sovereign political entities, and state and local government organizations to address food insecurity. Over the next few weeks, we will be releasing details about funding opportunities that will seek to enhance the availability of nutritious foods across regional or statewide service areas.
More information will be available at tset.ok.gov.