LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – This summer, public school students across the state will have access to $120 to help with grocery costs. The Michigan Department of Education is continuing its Summer EBT program this year with funding from The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which will give qualifying families extra funds to help with meals while they’re on break.
Summer EBT for children was the original program offered to families, pre-pandemic. Dr. Diane Golzynski, The Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations with the Department of Education, explained that in 2020, a pandemic EBT program was rolled out to help families with the extra food costs.
Now, families that qualify for the summer EBT program will receive $40 a month per child on a SNAP EBT, or Bridge card, based on their income.
Families with the income needed can apply for the benefits through their school district, and if you already receive SNAP benefits from the state, the supplemental funds can still be applied for.
Over the summer, two other programs help to supply meals to students that aren’t income-based. The first is the Summer Food Service Program, the second program allows families in rural districts to pick up 7 days worth of meals, once a week. Michigan.gov/meetupeatup is the summer food program website that lists the locations available for both programs during the summer months.
“If children go to a local YMCA or a local boys and girls club that participates in the summer food program, they could get two meals while they’re at that site eating together during the day,” Golzynski said. “Last summer we started a new program called the Rural Noncongregate Program, and then the Summer EBT program this summer will be the third leg of that stool trying to support children during the summer.”
The state Superintendent and the Governor have included the programs in their plan to make Michigan a top 10 state for education.
“What we’re really excited about is we see us being able to serve almost 900,000 children across the state of Michigan,” Golzynski said. “We’re really out to support children. That is our goal wherever they’re at. and so we want to find as many ways as possible to make that happen. easy for families to do.”
The Department of Education said that by supporting both the educational, and the physical development of students they can ensure better attendance, test scores, and higher graduation rates.
