The Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Department of Education are making Summer EBT available for families in need, with the program offering $120 per child to assist with grocery purchases when school is out. According to a recent press release, the benefit is part of a broader initiative to combat child hunger during the summer, when many children lack access to the nutrition programs they normally find at school.
As of June 28, 2021, 321,000 children were enrolled automatically in the program due to their participation in other programs like SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid. To date, 322,500 children have benefited from Summer EBT, injecting $38.7 million in federal funds into local grocery stores and farmers' markets. Yet, ODHS estimates there are still around 30,000 children who might be eligible, and families may not be aware of the opportunity or have taken action to apply.
To qualify for Summer EBT, children need to attend a school that participates in the national school lunch or breakfast programs and come from households with incomes at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. The ODHS is actively encouraging families to visit the Summer EBT website for details on eligibility and the application process.
ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht highlighted the initiative's success, telling the press via the Oregon Department of Human Services, "So far, 322,500 children have received Summer EBT." However, with the September 2 deadline for applications looming, families are urged to take action soon to ensure they don’t miss out on the assistance this benefit can provide. Families have until Oct. 28, to use the EBT benefits if they were issued on June 28, suggesting a limited timeframe to maximize the use of the provided funds.
Families interested in applying can do so online in English or Spanish or via email or regular mail in multiple languages. For those needing assistance, the Summer ESBT Call Center, 833-673-7328, offers services in various languages to streamline the application process.
