Anti-hunger advocates can be vital players in addressing disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and economic insecurity among LGBTQIA+ individuals and families by strengthening access to federal nutrition programs and by championing the Equality Act, landmark federal legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) recently released the Large School District Report: Operating School Nutrition Programs as the Nation Recovers From the Pandemic. FRAC’s report details school meals participation and operations in 91 school districts across 40 states and the District of Columbia in April 2022 and October 2022. Combined, the districts include 10,748 schools and have an enrollment of 6.52 million students.
The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program was permanently expanded in December 2022. In early June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) released initial guidance on state implementation of the program and requested that stakeholders submit feedback to inform the interim rulemaking. Input is still requested as guidance was just issued this month. The guidance covers four areas of Summer EBT implementation: Program Administration, Benefit Funds, Summer EBT State Administrative Funds and Other Potential Sources, and State Agreement and Management and Administration Plans. The guidance also provides high-level details that states can use to prepare for Summer EBT implementation.
For students in most states, the 2022–2023 school year marked the return to pre-pandemic school nutrition operations, including a return to assigning students to free, reduced-price, and paid meal categories based on their household income.
All children need to be hunger-free to have the energy and focus they need to get the most out of their school day. Please reach out to your Members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor these important bills. We cannot go another school year without free school meals for all students.
Changes are happening in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility and operations in summer 2023, both because SNAP temporary policies during the pandemic are “unwinding” and because the recently enacted debt ceiling law amends the population groups subject to SNAP time limit rules. Communicating with SNAP participants and applicants will be even more important in the weeks and months ahead to ensure that eligible people do not miss out on benefits.
