DURANT, Okla. (KXII) – Friday marked week three of the Choctaw Nation’s Summer Food Service program, as workers helped hand out food to feed over 1,400 kids in Durant.
Cars lined up and down both sides of Big Lots Boulevard patiently awaiting their turn to pick up.
Shelley Rector with the Choctaw Nation said the program is a partnership with USDA and the state of Oklahoma.
“We provide five breakfasts and five lunches that are shelf stable to children across the Choctaw Nation ages 1 through 17,” Rector said.
When kids leave school for the summer, some are also leaving behind multiple meals a day.
Along with their Summer EBT program, Rector said this is a way for them to help bridge that gap.
“Whether they’re low income or not low income, it just helps bring food to the table,” Rector said. “It’s convenient food where the kids can just run in and grab and have something to eat, and it just helps keep their pantry full during the summer months.”
Renda Roschal was one of the parents taking advantage of the opportunity and she said it’s huge for helping make ends meet.
“I’m just super grateful for the Choctaw Nation for giving us this opportunity and doing this for the community, it really makes a difference,” Roschal said.
There are pickup locations all across the reservation including Atoka, Choctaw, McCurtain and Pushmataha County.
“We have wonderful resources with Choctaw Nation that help more than just the tribal members,” Rector said. “It’s a wonderful feeling to go home with at night knowing that we have helped feed families, that we have helped put food in the mouths of children that needed it.”
Meals are first come first serve and are welcome to any children under 18 living on the Choctaw reservation regardless of income or tribal affiliation.
The program will run until school starts back up in August.
For more information on the program including a full list of pick-up locations and times, click here.
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