“We don’t have anything in our fridge…If other states are able to do it, why can’t we?”–Crystal Ripolio, asking why Florida’s governor, after turning down federal funding that helps families in need buy groceries, is allowing more than two million Florida children to go hungry this summer
Children across Florida are suffering from hunger after Gov. Ron DeSantis declined to participate in a new federal program that helps families in need buy groceries so low-income kids won’t face food insecurity over the summer.
The “Summer EBT” program helps qualifying families feed children who receive free or reduced-priced meals during the school year, but who often go hungry during the summer. Rejecting these federal dollars that would help feed vulnerable children in Florida is cruel and indefensible.
The initial deadline to enroll in next year’s program is fast approaching, and we need your help to pressure Gov. DeSantis to do the right thing.
The need for this program is very real. According to the Food Research and Action Center, less than 10% of the elementary school children in Florida who get free or reduced-price lunches during the school year receive lunch during the summer. Florida should join the 37 other states, the District of Columbia, and all five U.S. territories that have already enrolled in Summer EBT.
Had Florida participated in this year’s program, the state would have received $250 million to fight childhood hunger in Florida, roughly 20 times what the state would have paid in implementation costs. As DeSantis himself is quick to point out, Florida’s budget has an estimated surplus of $17 billion. There is no excuse for Gov. DeSantis to reject these federal funds with more than two million children suffering from hunger across our state.
Thank you for being part of our network and for taking action to fight childhood hunger in Florida.