The USDA is taking steps to make it easier for kids to get the nutrition they need when they aren’t in school. Officials announced this week that the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program will be expanded over the summer.
Any child eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school, as well as those under age six who live in a SNAP household, will typically qualify for $6.82 per weekday. That will be loaded on an EBT card that families can use to buy food.
While many schools and communities offer federally-funded summer feeding programs, the USDA says they typically only reach less than 20 percent of the families served during the school year. Funding for the expansion comes from the American Rescue Plan.
