[AUSTIN, TEXAS]－With the 89th Texas Legislative session underway, No Kid Hungry Texas will convene anti-hunger champions and constituents to advocate for the implementation of Summer EBT in Texas.
Summer EBT is a new federal program that offers $120 per child in grocery-buying benefits during the summer ($40/month). Eligible families are those who qualify for free and reduced-price meals at school. These nutrition benefits help supplement family grocery budgets, which face additional strain during the summer when school meals are no longer available.
Thirty-seven states began offering the program last summer, and Texas still has the opportunity to follow suit in the summer of 2025 and beyond.
“Summer is the hungriest time of the year for 1 in 4 kids in Texas, and Summer EBT is an essential investment in the future of our communities,” said Stacie Sanchez Hare, Director of No Kid Hungry Texas. “We are eager to show lawmakers how this program can be a lifeline for Texas families, especially as our recent poll found that 60% of those with school-aged children have had to choose between paying for food and another essential, like rent or utilities. We are hopeful that elected officials will take action to implement this essential nutrition program.”
No Kid Hungry Texas will be joined at the Capitol by their partners at Feeding Texas, and the Texas Pediatrics Society, along with local school board members and affected families. State Representative Armando Walle from Houston (TX -140) has been a key legislative champion for Summer EBT throughout 2024 and going into the upcoming legislative session.
“Summer EBT will save lives,” said Representative Walle. “By ensuring that every child has access to nutritious meals throughout the summer, we are laying the foundation for their success, both in school and beyond. The Legislature has an opportunity here to give Texas children the resources they need to thrive. It’s time to act, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in this effort.”
If the program is implemented, over 3.75 million kids across Texas would be eligible for benefits, helping families purchase nutritious food during the summer months. Beyond reducing food insecurity levels, Summer EBT is expected to have positive economic outcomes, infusing $450 million into the state’s economy, with an even greater anticipated impact of $693 million.
No Kid Hungry Texas continues to encourage partners and constituents to contact their representatives and voice their support for the implementation of Summer EBT. Learn more about this advocacy here.
About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.
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