WASHINGTON – USDA today announced that the agency will be allowing states to provide Pandemic-EBT to low-income families through the summer months. Previously, the Pandemic-EBT program, which provides funds to families whose children qualify for free or reduced-price meals while schools are operating remotely, has been active during the school year only. Funding for the expanded Pandemic-EBT program has been provided through the American Rescue Plan. According to USDA, the program will provide approximately $375 to each of 30 million children to help their families purchase food throughout the summer.
In response to this administrative action, Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, a nationwide nonpartisan direct service and advocacy organization, said:
“Expanding the Pandemic-EBT program to the summer is a wise and compassionate decision. It will ease child hunger, reduce the financial burden on parents, and create jobs in grocery stores. We are grateful that USDA recognizes that the most effective and efficient way to get nutritious food to kids during the summer is to provide their parents with the funds to purchase groceries. With programs and policies such as Pandemic-EBT, the child hunger rate in the U.S. will continue to decrease after a year when so many families and children struggled with food insecurity.”
