New Jersey is one of 35 states that will be participating in the USDA's new Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer, or Summer EBT, program to provide more food availability to children and families in need during the summer months, New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Joe Atchison III said in a news release.
States will provide families with $120 per eligible child for the summer to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets or other authorized retailers — similar to how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are used.
According to USDA estimates, New Jersey will have well over 500,000 children eligible for Summer EBT for a total distribution of nearly $65 million in federal food security benefits.
“The addition of Summer EBT will provide another opportunity for children and families in need to purchase healthy and nutritious food during the summer months when school lunch programs are not available,” Atchison said. “No child or family should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. This is an important step in bridging food security gaps for all New Jersey families.”
The new program is made possible by federal and state cost-sharing, with some additional funding provided by the New Jersey Food Security Initiative through the Food Research and Action Center and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, according to the release.
“By committing to launch Summer EBT this summer, New Jersey continues to show its dedication to ensuring food security for as many families as possible,” Mark Dinglasan, director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate, said in the release. “New Jersey is unique in that it is combining the collaborative efforts of the Departments of Agriculture, Human Services, and Education to launch Summer EBT with outreach efforts from key partners and stakeholders in N.J. that ensure many parents and schools have the information they need to take advantage of this program. We are bringing partners together to ensure we can support our students in the summer, and it's inspiring to be a part of these efforts.”
For the millions of children and their families who rely on school lunch programs as an important source of nutrition, summers present a challenge.
“The summer months can be difficult for families that rely on the nutritional support provided by the school lunch program," Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said in the release. "The addition of Summer EBT will help ensure that families and children have access to healthy food so important to their health throughout the year. This administration continues to prioritize food security for all because regular access to healthy foods means healthier people and communities. I look forward to continuing our work with the Departments of Agriculture and Education to bridge the food gap and provide equitable access to nutritious food for New Jersey's most vulnerable families.”
Eligible students will be certified through their school districts, which must participate in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, the release said. Eligible students must meet the income threshold for federal free and reduced-price meals, including those who attend schools that provide free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision.
“New Jersey's Summer EBT program is a significant step forward in our efforts to address food insecurity among children and families,” state acting Commissioner of Education Kevin Dehmer said in the release. “We know the crucial role that access to nutritious meals plays in a child's ability to learn and grow — the nearly $65 million in benefits of this program will provide nutrition for over half a million students during the summer months, when children do not have access to school-based programs. The collaboration of agencies working together to ensure that every child has the essential nutrition they need to thrive demonstrates New Jersey's commitment to this goal.”
Additionally, students who are enrolled in SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or foster care will be eligible for Summer EBT, regardless of where they attend school, according to the release.
Information about New Jersey's Summer EBT program, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, can be found on the state's newly created Summer EBT website.
(Photo courtesy of the state of New Jersey)
The USDA estimates that the states, U.S. territories and tribes that have committed to launching the Summer EBT program in 2024 will serve close to 21 million children, providing nearly $2.5 billion in grocery benefits. This represents approximately 70% of the total population of children eligible for Summer EBT, the release said.
The USDA expects additional states and tribes will provide Summer EBT in 2025.
“Summer grocery benefits are becoming a reality for many communities across the nation and for tens of millions of children who will receive the nutrition they need to grow, learn and thrive,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. “We applaud all the leaders and partners who are stepping up to make the program's inaugural year a success. Together we're making progress in closing the summer hunger gap and ensuring children are nourished and healthy year-round.”
Evaluations of a multiyear demonstration project showed that providing Summer EBT cards to eligible students reduced child hunger and improved diet quality, the release said. Summer grocery benefits decreased the number of kids with very low food security by about one-third and supported healthier diets featuring more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states, certain Indian tribal organizations, and territories operated a temporary program similar to Summer EBT, which demonstrated the potential of expanding the program nationwide, the release said. The program was found to decrease children's food hardship by 33% after benefits were issued and lifted between 2.7 million to 3.9 million children out of hunger.
This new Summer EBT program builds off Pandemic EBT, which provided $1.5 billion in federal food security benefits to New Jersey families from 2020 to 2023, according to the release.