USDA’s Summer Grocery Program targets child food insecurity

According to latest reports, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Summer EBT Program, championed by Feeding America, will help to ensure that more than 20 million children will continue to have access to adequate nutrition throughout the summer of 2024.

Feeding America has shared that it celebrates that news that at least 35 states, five US territories and four tribes intend to launch Summer EBT in 2024, and reveal that there is “potentially more to follow in 2025”.

This year’s Summer EBT Program is set to allow families across the US to choose nutritious foods that best meet their needs.

In partnership with Feeding America food banks and neighbours experiencing food insecurity, Feeding America reportedly spent more than 10 years raising Summer EBT with lawmakers as a way to help ensure children in communities across the country have the food they need to thrive during the summer months.

With figures revealing that, in 2022, more than 13 million children in the US faced hunger. Feeding America says that the new Program comes “at the right time”.

“As we saw during the pandemic, we know we can increase food security when we all work together to make sound policies a priority. Programs like Summer EBT will positively impact child food security,” said Feeding America.

“Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. They must have all the tools for success, including consistent access to nutritious food. The new Summer EBT Program brings our country one step closer to this reality. Feeding America will continue to work alongside the communities we serve, Congress and the administration to create solutions to end hunger among all children in the US,” concluded the hunger relief organisation.