Give More Kids School Meals
Imagine a world where all kids can focus on learning and making friends and not on their growling tummies. Lawmakers can make that world possible by expanding the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
CEP is a powerful tool that allows high-poverty schools and school districts to serve school breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students. Many families with kids eligible for free school meals do not apply for them due to stigma or difficulty with the school meals application process, leaving many eligible children without access to free school meals. CEP removes the application process altogether, removing the burden of processing paperwork off of hard-working school meal staff and ensuring more kids can eat nourishing food.
By expanding CEP, millions more kids would receive access to school meals. Translation: the nourishment of millions of kids is on the line unless Congress acts.
Ensure Kids Have Enough to Eat Year-Round
When school ends and summer begins, millions of children across the U.S. look forward to enjoying no more tests and no more classes. Unfortunately, for far too many kids, the summer also means no reliable access to school meals. By investing in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program, Congress could ensure the summer months aren’t hungry months.
A permanent, nationwide Summer EBT program would provide eligible families with kids with grocery cards during the summer months and when schools are closed. With the extra grocery support from Summer EBT, millions of families would be able to stretch their summer household budgets to ensure kids have full tummies regardless of the time of year. Lawmakers cannot turn their backs on this tool to fight child hunger.
