681,000 Schoolchildren In NJ Will Get Free Meals This Summer

Hundreds of thousands of children across New Jersey are expected to benefit from a nationwide summer meal program, state officials say.

More than 681,000 eligible children across the state will begin receiving Summer EBT benefits in the coming days, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) announced last week.

The nationwide USDA program – now in its third year of operation – provides food dollars to low-income families with school-aged children over the summer months when class is not in session.

The NJ Summer EBT program will continue to provide families with a one-time Summer EBT benefit amount of $120 per eligible child to buy nutritious food at grocery stores, farmers markets and other authorized retailers during the summer months.

Here’s how it works, the NJDA explains:

“Under the program, eligible students are certified through their school districts, which must participate in the National School Lunch and federal School Breakfast Programs. Eligible students must meet the income threshold for federal free and federal reduced-price school meals, including those who attend schools that provide free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Additionally, school-aged children (6-16) who are enrolled in SNAP, TANF, income-eligible Medicaid, or foster care will be directly eligible for Summer EBT, regardless of where they attend school. Families can check their child’s Summer EBT eligibility here. The School Meals and Summer EBT Application will be accepted throughout the summer. To apply for School Meals and Summer EBT benefits, families should contact their local school district.”

The meal program also boosts local businesses, state officials said: New Jersey’s total Summer EBT distribution is expected to infuse more than $94 million in existing federal food security benefits into the state’s economy.

“Just because the school season ends it does not mean we stop taking steps to feed students,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn said.

Other state departments supporting the effort include the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the New Jersey Innovation Authority, the New Jersey Department of Education, and the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate.

“School meals can be a lifeline for many students during the school year, and Summer EBT helps bridge that gap during the summer months,” Department of Education Commissioner Lily Laux said.

For more information about New Jersey’s Summer EBT program, including eligibility criteria, frequently asked questions, and additional contact details, visit the state’s official Summer EBT website at: https://www.nj.gov/summerebt/

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