By DAVID L. SNELLING Special to South Florida Times
Miami – More than two million Florida kids might not be getting enough food during the summer after the state declined to participate in an estimated $258 million federal program that gives families extra funds for their Summer EBT.
Florida is among 13 states to reject the SUN Bucks program which was designed to help low-income families impacted by inflation by adequately feeding their kids who usually receive breakfast and lunch during regular school.
All states are led by Republican governors.
According to the Food Research and Action Center, the federal program allows an extra $240 to $300 for each family during the summer strictly to be used to shop at food and farmers markets.
The advocacy group said for every 100 children who received a free or reduced-price meal during the 2021-2022 school year, only 11 got a summer lunch in July 2022.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida declined to participate in the program citing problems with aging state computer systems, philosophical opposition to welfare programs and a belief Florida’s existing free meal programs to address food insecurity are sufficient.
“We anticipate that our state’s full approach to serving children will continue to be successful this year without any additional federal programs that inherently always come with some federal strings attached,” Department of Children and Families spokesperson Mallory McManus told the Sentinel.
Under the terms of the Summer EBT program, the federal government covers the cost of the benefits for families, but states must split the administrative costs 50/50.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an estimated 2 million Florida children could have benefited from more than $258 million in aid this summer had state officials not turned it down.
Nationwide, an estimated 21 million kids are being fed by the program this year.
Food insecurity for low-income families has been at the forefront of inflation as thousands of families struggling to make ends meet also sought food at local food banks aided by federal and state governments and private donors.
Several food banks were located in the African American community including Brownsville, Liberty City and Overtown.
Feeding Florida, a food network, reports that about 21 percent of kids in Florida are experiencing food insecurity and it worsens during the summer since students are not in school receiving meals.
That could have an impact on their academics when they return to school.
“When school lets out for summer break, many children are left without a consistent source of food, adding to the other struggles they face like development and health,” Feeding Florida said in a statement. “Studies show kids who don’t get enough food to eat are more likely to repeat a grade, experience development impairments in areas like language and motor skills, and have more social and behavior problems.”
Feeding Florida said food banks statewide currently provide healthy and nutritious food for an estimated 908,470 children facing food insecurity in Florida.
But the summertime is more challenging as more kids are in dire need of food, especially after funds on their parents’ EBT card runs out.
Feeding Florida said Food insecurity impacts mostly communities of color driven by poverty, unemployment and household assets.
“A long history of racism and structural oppression has been perpetuated through policies that have caused many communities of color to face disparities in those drivers and, in turn, food insecurity itself,” said Feeding Florida.
Advocates are urging state officials to apply to participate in the program next summer.
States face an initial deadline of Aug. 15 to notify the federal government of their intent to participate, with a subsequent deadline of Feb. 15.
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