837,000 Children to Benefit from Ohio’s Summer EBT/SUN Bucks Program: Combatting Hunger and Food Insecurity among Families!

Ohio Launches Summer EBT/SUN Bucks Program to Combat Hunger

Program Details and Eligibility Criteria for Ohio’s Summer EBT/SUN Bucks Initiative

According to Public News Service Ohio is taking proactive steps to combat hunger among eligible families this summer with the introduction of the Summer EBT/SUN Bucks program by the state’s Office of Nutrition, led by Brigette Hires. Hires stressed the importance of such initiatives particularly for children from families struggling to afford sufficient food during the summer months who face an increased risk of food insecurity and learning setbacks. Through this program eligible families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 per child offering crucial assistance for purchasing groceries and ensuring adequate nutrition throughout the summer.

The Summer EBT/SUN Bucks program is designed to assist children aged 6 to 18 whose families are enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or the Ohio Works First program, and who are certified by their schools to receive free or reduced-price meals. Hires estimates that approximately 837,000 children across Ohio will benefit from this initiative. The process for receiving benefits is straightforward requiring no additional action from eligible households. Funds will either be deposited onto families’ existing Ohio Direction Cards or distributed through new cards via mail empowering them to purchase essential food items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains, and dairy products.

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837,000 Children to Benefit from Ohio’s Summer EBT/SUN Bucks Program: Combatting Hunger and Food Insecurity among Families! (PHOTO: Buncombe County Schools)

Ohio’s Comprehensive Approach to Addressing Summer Hunger

Ohio encourages families to explore the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) as an additional option for accessing nutritious meals during the summer. SFSP provides meals through schools and community agencies offering another way for families to ensure their children have adequate nutrition during the summer break. Families can easily find nearby SFSP sites by visiting the state’s education website or using the online map. Despite ongoing efforts, challenges remain with only one in ten children who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year accessing summer meal programs. Ohio’s commitment to initiatives like the Summer EBT/SUN Bucks program reflects its dedication to ensuring children have consistent access to nutritious food throughout the year.

Furthermore, Ohio’s dedication to addressing food insecurity extends beyond the Summer EBT/SUN Bucks program. The state actively encourages families to utilize the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) as an additional resource for securing nutritious meals during the summer months. By providing meals through schools and community agencies SFSP offers families another avenue to ensure their children receive adequate nutrition outside of the school year. Ohio’s commitment to supporting initiatives like SFSP underscores its ongoing efforts to combat hunger among children despite existing challenges. Through these comprehensive programs Ohio aims to ensure that eligible families have consistent access to nutritious food year-round mitigating the risk of food insecurity and promoting healthy development among children statewide.

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