New No Kid Hungry Poll Finds Broad Support for Summer Benefit Program to Combat Child Hunger in Georgia

In a state celebrated for its rich history and hospitality, there’s a pressing issue that often goes unnoticed: child hunger during the summer months. A recent statewide study reveals that families are overwhelmingly impacted by food insecurity once school is out, but it also uncovers a clear solution supported by Georgians across the political spectrum — participation in the Summer EBT program.   

The Strain of Summer 

  Summer has long been considered one of the hungriest times of the year. According to the survey, nearly 80% of Georgia families who qualify for Summer EBT report struggling to afford enough food during the summer months. Of these families, three-quarters (76%) say they have difficulty ensuring their children get enough nutritious meals when school is out of session. Traditional summer meals sites, while valuable, reach only a fraction of eligible families due to a variety of barriers. Many families face logistical challenges, such as transportation, work conflicts, lack of nearby meal sites and extreme summer weather. Limited hours of operation and the inconvenience of having to visit a specific location further contribute to the underutilization of the program, leaving many kids without consistent access to nutritious meals during the summer months.   

The Solution: Summer EBT

  Summer EBT provides eligible families with additional benefits to purchase groceries in the summer— $120 per child. The survey shows that Georgia families who are eligible for Summer EBT would use these benefits to purchase nutritious foods. “I could probably buy 2-3 meals that include real/healthier meat, fresh produce, and protein,” said one mom from Paulding County. “It would be that many less meals I had to worry about providing and knowing that they are healthy meals.” In fact, half (51%) of eligible families would use the extra funds to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, while 39% would use the benefits to purchase meat and other sources of protein. “Boy, we’d be getting fast food a whole lot less frequently and would instead be buying a surplus of fresh fruits, vegetables, pastas, meats, etc.,” said another mom from Gwinnett County.  The benefits of Summer EBT are clear, and the people of Georgia recognize this. A strong majority of adults across the state (82%) believe that Georgia should participate in Summer EBT and 76% are concerned that elected officials will decline the federal funding despite the program being permanently authorized in 2022 based on demonstration pilots dating back to 2011.  And yet, to date, the state still hasn’t made plans to implement the program in 2025 or beyond.  Georgia’s participation in Summer EBT has significant benefits for the state’s families, economy and overall well-being. The program not only provides a much-needed safety net for families struggling with food insecurity, but it also helps stimulate the local economy. Families who use Summer EBT to purchase food often spend those benefits at local grocery stores and farmers markets, providing an economic boost to their communities.  

Strong Bipartisan Support for Summer EBT

  The poll results make it clear: Georgians want more action to combat child hunger and they see Summer EBT as key to winning the fight against it.  A strong majority (82%) of adults statewide want Georgia to participate in Summer EBT, including nearly all (96%) self-identified Democrats, 79% of Independents and 82% of Republicans.  An overwhelming 94% of residents agree that child hunger is unacceptable, and 92% believe that ending childhood hunger should be a bipartisan goal. The poll shows strong demand for more action from elected officials to combat food insecurity, with 79% of respondents affirming that programs like Summer EBT are essential to achieving this goal.  With bipartisan support and a strong desire to address food insecurity, Georgia has the opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of its children by implementing Summer EBT this year and beyond.