A newly permanent federal program called the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT), will provide food benefits to nearly 21 million children in the US and its territories this summer, according to an announcement made by the US Department of Agriculture. Thirty-five states, all five U.S. territories, and four tribes have chosen to participate in the Summer EBT, which is intended to augment summertime programs that have been more narrowly focused. According to the USDA, no child in this nation should go hungry, and they most definitely shouldn’t because they can’t get wholesome school meals during the summer.
During the summer, eligible families will receive $40 per child each month, for a total of $120 per child. An EBT card, which is compatible with retailers accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, will be loaded with the funds. According to USDA estimates, the Summer EBT program will deliver $2.5 billion in grocery benefits in total by 2024.
One of the four tribes that chose to participate, the Cherokee Nation, claimed it was an easy choice to take part in the inaugural summer. Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wyoming are among the other states that declined to take part. Those in Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma who opposed Summer EBT pointed out that their states already had programs in place that provided summertime meals for kids.
