Oklahoma Ranks Second in Food Insecurity, First in Child Hunger — What Lawton Families Need to Know

New data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap shows Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for food insecurity at 20.2%, and the numbers get worse for kids. Child food insecurity is at 27.3%, the highest in the country, meaning about 263,450 Oklahoma children — one in four — don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Here in Lawton, some ZIP codes report food insecurity as high as 26.2%.

The numbers were presented to the Lawton City Council by Alex Grace Minter McCann of the Lawton Food Bank, who noted that 11.1% of Oklahoma seniors also experience food insecurity — the sixth-highest rate in the nation. Meanwhile, the Lawton Food Bank has already served 6,697 people and 1,997 families through the TEFAP program as of September.

Advocates like Joe Dorman at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy say the situation could worsen because expanded SNAP work requirements and stricter eligibility rules took effect March 1. If you’d like to help, the Lawton Food Bank accepts donations and volunteers, and local school food drives and church pantries are always looking for support.

Are you seeing food insecurity affect families in your neighborhood? Let us know what you’re hearing.