When the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program was launched as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, under the name Pandemic Benefits Electronic Transfer (P-EBT) Program, millions of families were able to qualify and found this help to be meaningful for their members. The summer EBT program is available to those with incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty level, a higher limit than regular SNAP benefits.
However, because Louisiana is not participating in the program this summer (part of the federal SNAP benefits initiative), thousands of households face additional expenses. You must pay for the registration of your children at the summer camp, in addition to providing food at home. This extra money could have gone towards paying utility bills or buying school uniforms for her children, she explained.
Louisiana Is Not Providing Summer EBT Food Stamps This Year
In February, the administration of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry announced that Louisiana would not accept federal funding to continue the summer EBT program. This program would have provided eligible families with $40 a month for each child to cover food costs after school ended, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USA. Louisiana joined 11 other Republican-led states that decided not to participate in the program by 2024.
Legislation has been introduced at the state Capitol to fund the summer EBT program, and some lawmakers are backing this bill, according to a Times-Picayune report, but it has yet to move forward in committee. The governor’s spokeswoman Kate Kelly mentioned in a press release that the Landry administration consider that the pandemic-era program is no longer necessary and that the administrative costs of $7 million would be too high for the state. Kelly added that the state already manages tens of millions of dollars from the federal safety net through SNAP, the Temporary Assistance Program for Needy Families, among others.
However, if Louisiana had accepted the summer EBT funds, the federal government would have covered half of the administrative costs, leaving the state with a cost of $3.5 million. This investment would have generated the state about $71 million in federal dollars to provide summer EBT benefits to approximately 549,000 children.
Alternatives to the Summer EBT Program: Food Banks in Louisiana
Here is a list of 5 non-governmental organizations that operate food banks in the state of Louisiana, to which you can turn if you have problems making ends meet, in the absence of your Summer EBT food stamps:
- Feeding America: Known as one of the leading organizations in the battle against hunger in the United States, this national network of food banks offers the possibility to locate your local food bank through its website or by calling its national hotline at 1-800-776-1336. You can access more information at https://www.feedingamerica.org.
- The Salvation Army: Known for its charitable services, this organization provides a wide range of food assistance, such as food pantries, community meals and programs to help at Christmas. To locate your local Salvation Army center, visit their website or call their national hotline at 1-800-725-7276. Find more information at https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn.
- Second Harvest Food Bank: This regional food bank serves 23 parishes in Northern Louisiana. They offer a variety of food assistance programs, including food pantries, children’s meal programs, and farmer assistance. You can find more information about their programs on their website or by calling 318-323-2020. Its website is https://www.2harvest.org.
- Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank: This food bank serves 9 parishes in the Baton Rouge area. It provides various food aid programs such as food pantries, children’s meals and senior support. To learn more details about their programs, visit their website or call 225-357-1950. Find more information at https://www.brfoodbank.org.Northwest Louisiana Food Bank: This food bank covers 5 parishes in Northwest Louisiana. It offers various food aid programs such as food pantries, meals for children and support for veterans. For more information about their programs, visit their website or call 318-424-1200. Find more details at https://www.foodbanknla.org.
