Last week Governor Pillen agreed to accept additional funding from the federal government’s EBT/ food stamp program, increasing amounts to families with children who would not be receiving free or reduced-price school lunches over the summer.
Summer EBT would give those low-income families with school-aged children an EBT card with $40 per month for three months per child to spend on groceries during the summer.
This will provide about $18 million in additional grocery benefits for Nebraskans, serving 80,000 households in our state. In Box Butte County, 944 students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in our schools. Their additional benefits will be worth $113,280, to be spent in our local grocery stores to feed our hungry children over the summer months!
Governor Pillen had initially refused the federal funds. However, several senators encouraged him to reverse his position. Senator Jen Day introduced legislation that would require the state to opt into the program. When the bill had a public hearing, seventeen people testified in support, 153 people submitted written comments, even high school students lobbied the governor. No one testified or wrote comments in opposition to the bill.
One of the major factors considered by Governor Pillen was Senator Ray Aguilar’s contention that “Rural kids don’t have the networks of support that are available to some other areas of the state.” The governor had initially refused the aid because of Nebraska’s participation in the USDA Summer Food Service Program, which provides meals at some summer school programs and camps, primarily in the Omaha and Lincoln areas.
Even though the state missed the January 1 deadline to opt into the program, Governor Pillen said that USDA officials were excited about Nebraska’s decision to join.
Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will be rolling out additional outreach efforts to reach families who participate in the program. This will include nutritional information and food recommendations, as well as summer activity programs. They are currently working on a web page with details about the program.
Steve Corsi, DHHS director, said that every family that receives Summer EBT will be contacted by DHHS staff to assess their needs and connect them to additional resources they might qualify for.
Families with school-age children whose annual income is less than 185% of the federal poverty level are eligible for the Summer EBT program. The income amount varies based on the size of the household, and charts are available online. Be sure to apply if your household qualified for free or reduced lunch, SNAP, ADC, Medicaid, or if you are foster parents.