Crystal Ripolio felt emotional as she stood in the produce line at a food bank in Tallahassee and was moved to tears by the bags of fresh peaches offered. She expressed her gratitude as she received bags of peaches, other produce, bread, and canned goods to help feed her family, highlighting the urgent need for assistance.
This summer, millions of American children are facing food insecurity after 13 states chose not to participate in a federal program aimed at helping families purchase groceries. While 37 states and several territories are benefiting from the initiative, providing an additional $120 per child to families relying on school meals, states like Florida, led by Republican governors, have opted out, leaving families like Ripolio’s without crucial support.
The program, known as Summer EBT or SUN Bucks, aims to assist children who rely on free or reduced-price school meals but may go hungry during the summer when those meals are not available. An analysis by the Food Research and Action Center revealed that out of 100 children who received free or reduced-price meals during the school year, only 11 received summer lunches in July 2022.
Layla Santiago, a single mother from Jacksonville, shared her challenges in accessing food pantries due to transportation issues, emphasizing the barriers faced by families in need. The states opting out of the program cited reasons such as outdated state systems, ideological opposition to welfare programs, and a belief in the sufficiency of existing meal programs, with all 13 states being led by Republican governors.
Despite the federal government covering the benefits’ cost for families, states are required to split administrative costs 50/50, resulting in approximately 2 million Florida children missing out on over $258 million in aid this summer. National estimates indicate that around 21 million children are benefitting from the program in 2022, underscoring the significant impact of participating states.
Advocates are urging states to reconsider participating in the program next summer, recognizing the critical need for additional support. While existing summer meal programs provide some assistance, they fall short of reaching all eligible children, leaving a substantial gap in addressing food insecurity. With families still struggling due to the pandemic’s economic impact and inflation, the need for accessible food assistance remains high.
As families like Ripolio’s and Santiago’s navigate the challenges of accessing food resources, the importance of comprehensive support through programs like Summer EBT is clear. Despite the current limitations, efforts to advocate for increased participation and address food insecurity for vulnerable families continue to be a pressing priority.
