Thousands of low-income Minnesota families with school-aged children will get assistance from the state to purchase food during the summer when school is out.
Gov. Walz on Thursday announced the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program aimed at combating food insecurity. Under the program families will receive $120 per eligible school-aged child in funds loaded on EBT cards.
“The end of the school year should not mark the start of food scarcity,” Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement announcing the program. “This program, which has been a major priority of our administration, provides a boost for families, allowing them to ensure that their children have enough food to keep them going all summer and ready to learn come fall.”
The Minnesota Department of Human Services on its website says most families that already receive other benefits or public assistance such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Foster Care, or Medical Assistance (MA) will automatically be enrolled in the Summer EBT program, but some might need to apply for it.
Families that are not sure if they are eligible are encouraged to call the Summer EBT help line at 651-431-4608. They can also contact their school district or children’s school to check on eligibility.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in the same statement as Gov. Walz said she had first-hand experience of food insecurity while growing up and used the free and reduced lunch program at school.
“Our kids shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from. I also know that when the school year ends, kids can fall through the cracks,” Lt. Gov. Flanagan said, adding that the program will ensure that children can stay healthy and fed “all year long.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 400,000 children in Minnesota could benefit from the program, bringing in an estimated $100 million in food benefits for families between the summers of 2024 and 2025.
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