Oasis Fresh Market offers free meals for Tulsa youth

With schools out for summer, some families are left wondering how to make up for the meals their children usually receive during the school year. One Tulsa grocery store is stepping up to help — and offering more than just food.

This is Oasis Fresh Market's second year hosting its free summer feeding program, serving breakfast and lunch every weekday to children under 18. The program runs from June 2 through August 8.

Oasis leaders say their mission goes beyond nourishment. It’s about connection, encouragement and giving kids a taste of something new — in more ways than one.

Meals Served Five Days a Week

Families and children can stop by Oasis Fresh Market Monday through Friday for free meals — no registration or ID required. Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Staff invite kids to sit, eat and stay a while, creating a welcoming space that feels more like a community than a cafeteria.

A Growing Impact

This is the second year Oasis has hosted the program. Last summer, they served more than 2,200 meals. This year, they’re aiming for 3,500.

On the menu? Sandwiches, fruit, milk, juice, and hot meals are available every Friday.

Food and a Future

Store owner AJ Johnson says the program is about nourishing bodies and minds — and helping students understand the connection between what they eat and how they think.

“We truly believe that the brain is like an amazing rubber band,” Johnson said. “When you stretch that rubber band it never returns back to the original size and so we want to expose boys and girls to healthy eating, to making great choices and empower them with, ‘Hey, if I know that this is going to help me feel better and it’s going to help me think better — man, I can go so much further.’”

He added, “Because we all know a healthy gut affects your brain, it affects your mood, and so that’s why we know this is so important for Tulsa and so many boys and girls in our community.”

More Than Meals

In addition to free food, Oasis is offering enrichment activities all summer long — including reading, coloring, math tutoring and nutrition lessons.

How to Get Involved

The summer feeding program is open to all students 18 and under. Johnson says people can partner with the store to help them reach their goal of feeding 3,500 meals this summer. Visit Oasis Fresh Market's website to learn more.

Where else to eat?

Several other places are hosting similar summer feeding programs around Green Country this summer.

Bixby Public Schools

1. May 23 - July 17
2. Monday through Thursday, 8-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
3. 9th-grade cafeteria
4. Serving children under 18 and under
5. Meals must be eaten on site
6. Click here for more information

Broken Arrow Public Schools

1. Dates and hours vary per location. Click here to learn more
2. Serving children 18 and under
3. Students are required to eat on-site
4. Parents/caregivers can purchase meals for $4.90

Claremore Public Schools

1. June 2 through August 1, Monday through Friday
2. Free meals for students 18 and under
3. All meals must be eaten on site
4. Meal times and dates vary by location. Click here to learn more

Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma

1. Free summer meals for children 18 and under during the summer months
2. Days and meal times vary per location. Click here to learn more
3. There are different meal options depending on location, on-site, and grab and go

Food on the Move

1. Free food and resource festivals are available to the community
2. Families can take home 30-pound bags of groceries and receive a meal
3. More details about the festivals and dates can be found here

Hunger Free Oklahoma

1. Hunger Free Oklahoma has a map compiled of different summer food programs available for kids
2. Type in the zip code here and see what is available around you.

Jenks Public Schools

1. Free to children 18 and under
2. Two locations, Northwest Elementary (7625 S. Elwood Ave. Tulsa, OK) and Jenks High School dining hall (205 East B Street Jenks, OK)
3. Meal times and dates vary per location

Northwest Elementary:

June 2 through August 1, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9:05 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (closed July 2 - 4, 2025)

Jenks High School: June 5 through August 1, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (closed June 30 - July 4, 2025)

1. Those over 18 can also purchase meals, cash only, between $3 and $5

Osage Nation Summer Food Program

1. Free for children 18 and under
2. Serving shelf-stable breakfast and lunches
3. Dates, times and locations vary. Click here to learn more

Owasso Public Schools

1. Running from May 27 through July 24
2. Free breakfast and lunch for children 18 and under
3. Served at Owasso High School East campus
4. Meals are also available starting June 2 at the 6th Grade Center and Mills Elementary
5. No application or registration required. All meals must be eaten on-site
6. Children do not need to be enrolled in Owasso Public Schools to participate
7. Click here for more information

Sand Springs Public Schools

1. Free meals for children 18 and under through June 2025
2. Meals served at Garfield STEAM Academy
3. You do not need to be a student at Garfield STEAM Academy to receive a meal
4. Parents and guardians cannot pick up meals and will need to bring an ID if accompanying a child
5. Meals must be eaten on site
6. Click here for more information

Tulsa Public Schools

1. Free meals for children 18 and under
2. First summer cafe opens May 28, last one closes August 8
3. Meal times are from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., but may vary per location
4. Meals must be eaten on site
5. All sites will be closed June 19 and July 4
6. Click here for more information and a list of available sites