TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Crystal Ripolio was emotional as she navigated the produce line at the Good News Outreach food bank in Tallahassee. The sight of ripe peaches brought tears to her eyes.
“We don’t have anything in our fridge,” Ripolio shared.
Leaving with paper bags filled with peaches, other produce, bread, and canned goods, Ripolio and her 8-year-old daughter, Isabella, expressed gratitude for the much-needed assistance.
This summer, millions of American children are going hungry as 13 states opted out of a federal program that supports families in buying groceries.
According to the Department of Agriculture, 37 states, four U.S. territories, and five Native American tribes are benefiting from the program. Families that qualify, and whose children depend on school meals, are receiving an additional $120 per child this summer.
Despite having two school-aged daughters, Ripolio, a Florida resident in a Republican-led state that declined participation, missed out on receiving an extra $240 for essentials like bread, milk, and cereal.
The Summer EBT or SUN Bucks program provides money to qualifying families to shop at grocery stores and farmers markets, aiming to address the issue of children going hungry during the summer.
According to an analysis by the Food Research and Action Center, only 11 out of 100 children who received free or reduced-price meals during the school year received a summer lunch in July 2022.
Layla Santiago, a single mother from Jacksonville, has been relying on local food pantries due to transportation challenges, illustrating the struggle faced by families in need.
States that declined participation cited reasons such as outdated computer systems, resistance to welfare programs, and belief in the sufficiency of existing free meal programs. All 13 states with Republican governors have opted out.
Florida, like other states, could have benefited greatly from the program. Roughly 21 million children nationwide are being supported by the program this year.
Advocates are urging state officials to reconsider participating in the program next summer to address the persisting issue of food insecurity.
___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
