On Dec. 23, 2022, Congress authorized Summer EBT as a permanent program. FNS is working with states and local partners to implement this new program. Visit our Summer EBT webpage to learn more.
In the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Act (PL 111-80), Congress authorized demonstration projects to develop and test methods of providing access to food for low-income children in urban and rural areas during the summer months when schools are not in regular session, as well as rigorous independent evaluations of each projects’ effectiveness.
The Food and Nutrition Service launched the first of these projects, collectively known as the Summer Food for Children Demonstrations (SFC), in the summer of 2010. Over the years, these demonstration projects have tested multiple approaches to addressing summer food insecurity among children in a variety of settings, and continue to test innovative concepts for summer feeding.
- Reports to Congress (2010-2013)
Summer Electronic Benefits for Children (Summer EBT)
As part of its efforts to end child hunger, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) created the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) demonstration to study the use of SNAP and WIC electronic benefits transfer (EBT) technology in providing food assistance to low-income children during the summer by providing their families with more resources to use at food stores.
Through summer EBT, participating states and Tribes provide the families of low-income children with food benefits on debit cards, giving them more resources to use at retail food stores during the summer. Summer EBT is designed to complement traditional summer meal programs by providing states with an additional tool to serve communities that have limited or no access to traditional summer meal programs.
- FAQs
- 2011 Proof of Concept Year: Small-scale “proof-of-concept” demonstrations of the EBT-based approaches began in summer 2011 in two states for the WIC model (Michigan and Texas) and three states for the SNAP model (Connecticut, Missouri and Oregon). Each state provided benefits to 2,500 children in summer 2011.
- 2012 Expanded Operations and New Sites: All five proof-of-concept states are increasing operations in summer 2012 to serve 5,000 children in the 2011 demonstration areas. Four of these states (Connecticut, Missouri, Oregon and Michigan) are also serving an additional 5,000 children in new parts of their states. In addition, five new states and Tribal Organizations will begin implementing SEBTC projects in 2012 each providing 5,000 children with benefits: Cherokee Nation (WIC), Chickasaw Nation (WIC), Nevada (WIC), Delaware (SNAP) and Washington (SNAP).
Reports
- SEBTC Demonstration: A Summary Report
- SEBTC Demonstration: Evaluation Findings for the Third Implementation Year: 2013 Final Report
- SEBTC Demonstration: Evaluation Findings for the Full Implementation Year 2012 Final Report
- Congressional Status Report: SEBTC Demonstrations, 2012
- SEBTC Evaluation Findings for Proof-of-Concept Year - November 2012
- SEBTC Early Experiences through June 2011 of the Proof-of-Concept Year
- Congressional Status Report: SEBTC Demonstrations, 2011
Meals-To-You
2019
The Meals-To-You Demonstration Project provides nutrition during the summer months to children who may otherwise be unable to access existing Summer Food Service Program sites. Families with students who are eligible for free- or reduced-price meals opt-in to be mailed one box per child per week during the summer. Each box contains components for 15 meals: five breakfasts, five lunches/suppers, and five snacks.
Demonstration Project for Non-Congregate Feeding for Outdoor Summer Meal Sites Experiencing Excessive Heat
2011
The Demonstration Project for Non-Congregate Feeding for Outdoor Summer Meal Sites Experiencing Excessive Heat allows summer meal programs operating approved outdoor meal service without temperature-controlled alternative sites to operate as non-congregate sites on days when the area is experiencing excessive heat. Non-congregate meal service is permitted only on days when the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory, an Excessive Heat Warning, or an Excessive Heat Watch for the area in which an approved outdoor meal site is located.
Enhanced Summer Food Service Program (eSFSP)
2010-2013
The eSFSP demonstration projects tested multiple methods of improving service delivery through the existing summer meal programs. Demonstrations encouraged sites to operate for a greater portion of the summer, supported recreational or enrichment activities at the sites, delivered meals to eligible children in rural areas, and provided take home backpacks of food to cover the days that SFSP meals were not available.