Media Contact:
Jordan Baker jbaker@frac.org202-640-1118
Statement attributable to Kelly Horton, Interim President, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2024 — FRAC is thrilled to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in celebrating the launch of the Summer EBT Program. By implementing this new permanent program, 37 states, the District of Columbia, all five U.S. territories, and two Tribes are helping to reduce summer hunger, so children can return to school well-nourished and ready to learn.
USDA has been working diligently to implement this important new program that is designed to help replace the school meals that families rely on during the school year to keep hunger at bay. The program provides eligible families with $120 per child in grocery benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer card during the summer months.
Summer EBT complements the Summer Nutrition Programs, known as summer meals, which play a vital role in reducing childhood hunger and often link children to summer enrichment programming. Despite these strengths, summer meals reach only a fraction of the children who rely on free and reduced-price school meals during the school year. Summer EBT will help bridge that gap for an estimated 21.3 million children nationwide.
Find information about the impact of Summer EBT and eligibility for the program, and visit frac.org/summer-ebt to learn more.
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The Food Research & Action Center improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
