Latest news with #SunBucks
CBS News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes summer food program, drawing criticism from educators and advocates
Gov. Greg Abbott's recent veto of a $60 million state plan to support low-income families through a federal summer food program has sparked concern among educators and hunger relief advocates across Texas. The program, known as Sun Bucks, would have provided $120 per eligible child to help families buy groceries during the summer months, when school meals are unavailable for many children. Schools step in to help "School may be out for summer, but hunger doesn't take a break," said Melinda Hillis, a representative with Dallas ISD's Food and Child Nutrition Services. "A lot of kids depend on schools to eat. So we offer summer meals to bridge that gap." Dallas ISD, along with dozens of other school districts across the state, continues to offer summer breakfast and lunch programs. The district is also preparing to distribute family food baskets starting next week, in partnership with food pantries and charitable food banks. Abbott cites federal funding concerns Despite these efforts, the vetoed Sun Bucks program was seen as a critical supplement. Abbott defended his decision by citing concerns over federal funding reliability. "There is significant uncertainty regarding federal matching rates for this and other similar programs," Abbott said in his veto explanation. Families face food insecurity But for families relying on free school meals, that uncertainty is already a daily reality. "Families that receive free meals from our district are eligible for EBT," Hillis said. "This program would have helped them continue feeding their children through the summer." Advocates call veto disappointing The veto has drawn sharp criticism from hunger relief organizations. Feeding Texas, a coalition of food banks across the state, called the decision disappointing. "The governor's veto comes at a time when nearly one in four children in Texas already face food insecurity," the organization said in a statement. Future of summer aid uncertain While school districts continue their summer meal campaigns, many are left wondering whether the state will reconsider its stance on summer food assistance in the future.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio families to receive extra EBT benefits during summer
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Some families can now get extra EBT benefits to help fight food insecurity while kids are on summer break. Summer benefits, also know as Sun Bucks, will be distributed for most eligible children in the month of June. This will come as a one-time $120 benefit. 'Last year, we provided $144 million in food assistance to over 1.2 million Ohio children through the Sun Bucks program,' said Matt Damschroder, ODJFS director. 'We have begun the process of distributing the $120 per eligible child and expect to have most benefits distributed over the next month.' Summer meal programs under strain amid increased need, funding cuts These benefits help families who rely on school lunch programs, which are unavailable through the summer months. Families unsure about eligibility can apply with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Summer EBT ‘SUN Bucks' going out this month
(WKBN) – Ohio's Sun Bucks program will be distributed through June. The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children, also known as Summer EBT or SUN Bucks, is a federal program that provides assistance to eligible families with school-aged children while those schools are closed for the summer. SUN Bucks is a one-time benefit of $120 per eligible child. The benefit will be distributed in batches through June. Those receiving SNAP and Medicaid are automatically enrolled and will be loaded on the One Direction Card. New recipients will receive a benefit card by mail. Like SNAP, the extra money can be used to buy goods at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other authorized retailers. Last year, $144 million was given out in extra food assistance to over 1.2 million Ohio children through the SUN Bucks program. Families not automatically eligible can learn more about the application process online. Research shows that during a slowing economy, $1 billion in new SNAP benefits would lead to an increase of $1.54 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 54% above and beyond the new benefits. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas will begin a summer lunch program in 2027, but only if feds don't raise costs
A new food program that would give low income families $120 per child to help feed them during the summer months could be coming to Texas in 2027. Texas has never participated in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program, created in 2023, an offshoot of a similar pandemic program. But tucked inside the state's $338 billion budget is a $60 million budget addition for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to administer such a program. States have to pay 50% of the administrative cost to participate in the Summer EBT program, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that also goes by the name of Sun Bucks. That large investment could bring another $400 million in federal dollars to Texas. However, ongoing talks at the federal level about slashing food benefits could endanger Texas' participation in the Biden-era summer program. A provision built into the rider could cancel the appropriation if the current state-federal funding formula changes. 'If federal matching rates for the program or administration of the program are changed in a manner that result in a higher cost to Texas from the match rates in place on May 30, 2025, this appropriation is void,' the rider language states. Families would qualify for the summer meal benefits if their children, even if they are home-schooled or attend private schools, qualify for free or reduced priced lunches during the school year. In 2024, a family of four with an annual income of $40,560 or less would be eligible for free school lunch. To qualify for a reduced school meal, that same family would have to make $57,720 or less. For state Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, bringing the Summer EBT program to Texas was personal. Today, he lives not far from where he grew up in northeast Houston. 'We were on food stamps growing up,' he said. 'I lived that experience of not having food.' While HHSC would design and manage the program, it would also work in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Agriculture, which manages federal agriculture dollars that fund school lunches in Texas. 'TDA looks forward to continued collaboration with HHSC on their submission of a state plan, ' the agency said in a statement. The state's agriculture agency already works with schools, cities and community groups to offer lunches during the summer for school-age children. Those institutional partners submit expenses for the lunches they served and are reimbursed for cost by the federal government, according to Lena Wilson, assistant commissioner for food and nutrition at TDA. In 2024, there were 12 million summer meals (snacks and lunches) served to Texas children at 4,480 sites statewide at a cost of $46.1 million. This existing USDA's summer lunch program, which was piloted in 1968 and was made a full-fledged funding stream in 1975, does not require pre-registration or identification to access. The locations are selected primarily where children in need are located and is open to all children, even if they don't live in the specific neighborhood. 'It's great,' said Catherine Wright-Steele, TDA's commissioner of food and nutrition, because children can bring their younger siblings who aren't attending schools yet or say a young friend or cousin visiting from out of town. Some of the meals are prepared and served on site. At other locations, they can be more of a 'grab-and-go' sack lunch offering. 'So many children who live in poverty in Texas. These programs all supplement each other,' Walle said of adding another summer program. From an economic standpoint, bringing more federal dollars will put more customers in stores, he said. 'It's an economic benefit to the state of Texas,' Walle said. Walle, who said he has been working on Summer EBT for the past 18 months, also credited bipartisan support in the House and Senate, as well as Gov. Greg Abbott. For other food assistance groups, the inclusion of the rider has been welcome news. 'We're thrilled that state lawmakers included funding in the budget to administer Summer EBT,' said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. 'Summer EBT fills this gap, ensuring that Texas kids stay nourished and ready to learn. The program is particularly important for a state like Texas, where 1 in 6 households are food insecure.' Right now, Congress is considering slashing the budget of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, what many people still refer to as food stamps. As the rider currently reads, the Texas participation in Summer EBT could be in danger if the federal government forced states to pay more of the administrative cost or even a portion of the subsidy. There's been no word on whether the Summer EBT program could face cuts. For now, the state is moving to come up with a plan to submit to Washington. Disclosure: Feeding Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cherokee Nation provides food to children and elders
TAHLEQUAH — The Nowata Food Distribution and Senior Nutrition site celebrated its grand opening on Wednesday. The Cherokee Nation's Senior Nutrition Program provides seniors across the 14-county reservation with weekly meals and opportunities to fellowship with others. 'We opened our first original site here 13 years ago, and now, just 13 years later, we are serving 771 individuals, and I am just so pleased with that,' District 11 Councilor Kendra McGeady said. She said that food sovereignty and the ability to meet your nutritional needs matter in many ways. 'This serves as a hub for fellowship and community, and I think that all those things play into the health and wellness of our citizens,' McGeady said. Cherokee Nation's Nowata Food Distribution Program, which operates in the same facility as the Senior Nutrition Program, serves eligible families nutritious foods and operates in a grocery store environment that allows participants to shop in a comfortable and familiar setting. The Nowata Food Distribution facility serves over 400 homes and 8,400 people through in-person and home-delivered meals annually. The new upgrades and expansion of the facilities are an investment of $2.8 million from the Cherokee Nation. 'These improvements to the Nowata Food Distribution Store and Senior Nutrition Site have been a long time coming. It's an incredible feeling knowing that we need to expand, because that means that Cherokees are utilizing these facilities in this community and surrounding communities,' said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. The Nowata facility houses the tribe's senior nutrition site and food distribution store, which started operating in 2012. The new expansion to the building includes a 1,500-square-foot warehouse, a 400-square-foot conference room, a 500-square-foot dining expansion for the senior nutrition program, and a 1,500-square-foot freezer/cooler. Cherokee Nation is also helping the tribe's youngest citizens with its Summer EBT program, known as 'Sun Bucks. ' This program, offered through Cherokee Nation Public Health's Nutrition Programs, helps families buy nutritious foods during summer. Cherokee Nation expects to serve an estimated 50,000 children this summer, serving all eligible applicants, whether Cherokee or non-Cherokee citizens. Qualifying families will receive $120 in food benefits per child on one benefit issuance on an EBT card, which works like a debit card. Participation in this program will not impact other government assistance participants may receive. The deadline to apply is August 30. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
