NEW YORK - Governor Kathy Hochul has made an exciting announcement for families in New York. The state has decided to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT), which will bring in over $200 million in federal funding.
This program is specifically designed to address the issue of hunger and food insecurity for children who rely on free and reduced-price school meals during the school year, but struggle to access these meals during the summer months.
“Our kids need healthy, nutritious food to grow and thrive. This new federal funding will be a critical lifeline for families struggling to make ends meet.”
Eligible families with school-age children will receive $120 per child during the summer, providing much-needed support during the months when school meals are not available. It is estimated that around 2 million children in New York will qualify for this benefit, and more information on eligibility and distribution will be made available in the near future.
Federal Initiative for summer food assistance is a great step towards eliminating hunger among qualifying students in New York State.
Great initiative to ensure that no qualifying students in New York State go hungry during the summer break!