Launched in 2011 as a demonstration project and made permanent in 2023, Summer EBT provides families with $120 per eligible child to buy groceries during the summer. Despite Summer EBT’s many benefits, some states are choosing to reject the federal funding available through the program and instead implement state-funded programs that reach significantly fewer children. Summer EBT is a proven, cost-effective way to reduce summer hunger and improve nutrition while strengthening local economies.