When summer nears, hundreds of thousands of kids in Washington can face three months without free meals provided by their schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s this huge gap, and it affects learning,\u201d Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said.<\/p>\n
But starting this summer, a new federal program will help lower-income families who rely on free school breakfasts and lunches.<\/p>\n Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. <\/em>Sign up for The 74 Newsletter<\/strong><\/a><\/p> The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children<\/a> is similar to a program that helped feed families during the pandemic. With a push from Murray, a permanent version of the program was approved federally in 2022 and is set to launch in Washington this summer, thanks to some new funding from the state Legislature.<\/p>\n It will provide families with a $120 preloaded card usable at grocery stores and farmers markets. The cards will be issued to families between mid-June and the end of August, but the exact dates that a child may receive their benefits will vary, according to state officials.<\/p>\n Children whose families are up to 185% of the federal poverty line \u2013 $57,720 for a family of four<\/a> \u2013 can qualify. The state estimates<\/a> about 550,000 kids in Washington will be eligible.<\/p>\n Most of the funding comes from the federal government. But during this year\u2019s session, the state Legislature set aside $12 million over the next two years to fund a portion of the program. The plan for the state program, which will be run by the Department of Social and Health Services and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, was approved by the federal government last week.<\/p>\n
<\/span>\n