1 in 6 Tennessee kids face hunger, and the moment school lets out, summer becomes the hardest, and hungriest season of the year. When school meals disappear, so does one of the only reliable sources of food many kids have. In the summer of 2024, a program called Summer EBT helped over 700,000 children across all 95 Tennessee counties eat. Then, the state opted out, and that number collapsed to just 18,000 kids in 15 counties. Tennessee advocates, legislators and community leaders are fighting to bring it back.
Memphis parent Anthony Bonner felt that loss firsthand.
“It was the start of May 2025 when I found out Summer EBT wasn’t coming to Memphis. I know that extra benefit would have helped my now 14-year-old son during the summer months,” he shared. “This is just my story. There are so many families that same summer that just didn’t know until the Summer EBT card never came. We lost a benefit that was crucial in a city where so many areas are ‘food deserts.’ Areas where sidewalks are scarce, grocery stores with healthy options are too far to walk to. Summer EBT is more than just a budget ask. This program is a lifeline for some families in months where food insecurity is the highest.”
On March 11, No Kid Hungry Tennessee held its first-ever Day of Advocacy in Nashville to build support for SB1911/HB1835, a bill that would fund and implement Summer EBT for Tennessee families starting in 2027. In partnership with the Tennessee Justice Center, the day brought together community organizations, food banks, chefs, business leaders, mayors, medical professionals and educators to meet directly with legislators. Thanks to the leadership of Representative Michael Hale and Senator Paul Bailey, the bill’s sponsors, advocates arrived at the Capitol with wind at their backs, and left having secured eight new co-sponsors, six in the House and two in the Senate.
Summer EBT isn’t just a win for families, it’s a win for the state. The program provides each eligible family with a school-aged child $120 to help cover the gap when school meals are unavailable. In 2024, it delivered over $84 million in grocery assistance – money spent directly with Tennessee grocers, farmers and small businesses – generating more than $134 million in economic impact statewide. If the program returns in 2027, that number is projected to reach $151 million.
Studies show that 62% of Tennessee families struggle to provide their kids with enough nutritious food during the summer, and with budgets already stretched thin to cover everyday expenses, the math gets harder every year. Traditional summer meal sites help, but they can’t reach every family – transportation barriers, work schedules and limited availability in rural communities leave too many kids without options. Summer EBT works alongside these programs by giving families the flexibility to buy food where they already shop.
Kids who have access to healthy meals during the school year and over the summer focus better, perform better academically, stay healthier and come back to school ready to learn.
Tennessee legislators on both sides of the aisle are coming together for this important issue. Add your voice to bring Summer EBT back for 700,000 kids across the state.
