BISMARCK (KFGO AP) – About 21 million U.S. children are likely to receive food benefits this summer through a newly permanent federal program announced by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wednesday.
North Dakota is one of 35 states that opted into the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for families at or below 185% of the federal poverty line.
Erin Oban is the state director of Rural Development for the USDA. She says the Biden Administration initiative had strong bipartisan support in Congress.
“School meals are often the most reliable source of food for kids with struggling families. Through this program – which the President and USDA Secretary Vilsack are really grateful to North Dakota leaders for opting to access the opportunity – families here in North Dakota will be provided to $120 per child for those summer months that they aren’t in school in order to shop for and buy food at their local grocery store or retailer,” Oban said.
Oban says the state Departments of Public Instruction (DPI) and Health and Human Services (HHS) will work together to administer the program. The USDA estimates that at least 40,000 North Dakota children are eligible.
DPI Nutrition Director Linda Schloer says some summer food programs already exist but they aren’t accessible to all kids. She said some schools provide meals to kids during the summer, but that program isn’t available everywhere because a certain percentage of low income students is required. And in rural areas it’s difficult for kids who live on farms or outside of town to come in to pick up or be present for a meal. And, she said, many small schools don’t have the capacity or the staffing needed to run a summer food program.
Schloer says that’s why opting into the new Summer EBT program was a no-brainer for leadership at DPI and HHS – it evens the playing field for families that are struggling.
“It reaches kids, regardless of where they’re living,” she said.
Comments