TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Crystal Ripolio was emotional as she walked through the produce line at the Good News Outreach food bank in Tallahassee, especially when she saw the bags of ripe peaches.
“We have nothing in our fridge,” Ripolio shared.
Leaving with paper bags containing peaches, other produce, bread, and canned goods, Ripolio and her 8-year-old daughter, Isabella, expressed gratitude for the help they urgently required.
This summer, millions of American children are missing out on extra food assistance after 13 states opted out of a federal program that aids families in purchasing groceries.
According to the Department of Agriculture, 37 states, four U.S. territories, and five Native American tribes are benefiting from the program, providing qualifying families with an additional $120 per child to help feed their kids during the summer.
Ripolio, a mother of two school-aged daughters, could have received an extra $240 on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, but Florida, a state led by Republicans, chose not to participate.
Summer EBT or SUN Bucks is a federal program that provides money to qualifying families to shop at grocery stores and farmers markets, aiming to assist children who rely on school meals but often go hungry during the summer.
Despite the availability of the Summer EBT program, only a small percentage of children who received free or reduced-price meals during the school year accessed summer lunches in 2022.
Layla Santiago, a single mother of five children between 2 months and 10 years old, noted her struggle to access food pantries due to transportation issues this summer.
The states that declined to participate in the program cited reasons such as outdated state computer systems, opposition to welfare programs, and a belief in the sufficiency of existing free meal programs.
Florida turned down more than $258 million in aid that could have benefited around 2 million children this summer, contributing to the total of 21 million children nationwide being fed by the program.
Advocates urge state officials to consider participating in the program next summer to bridge the food gap for eligible children.
Reporter Kate Payne is covering this story as part of The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, aimed at addressing underreported issues.
