A new federal program will provide $120 to buy food over the summer

Puerto Rico will benefit A new federal program that will give families $120 per eligible child to buy food During the summer, the period in which schools are closed, the United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.

A new program which will be permanent, Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT), for total benefits of $2.5 billion, will serve nearly 21 million children in 35 states, five territories, and four tribes in the United States. This represents about 70% of the total population of children eligible for summer EBT.

The agency estimates Some in Puerto Rico 280,000 children are eligible to receive Summer EBTThat’s a total of $33,600,000 Among the benefits.

This $120 will be used to buy food at official marketsHow benefits equally Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which in the case of Puerto Rico is the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN).

“The benefits of summer feeding are becoming a reality for many communities across the country and for millions of children who will receive the nutrition they need to grow, learn and thrive,” the agriculture secretary said in written statements. , Tom Vilsack. “We applaud all the leaders and partners who are stepping up to make the program’s inaugural year a success. Together we are moving forward to close the summer hunger gap and ensure children stay nourished and healthy all year round.”

According to Agriculture, Summer food shopping benefits have reduced the number of children with very low food security by almost a third and supports a healthy diet with more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

The new permanent summer EBT program was enacted bipartisanly by Congress just over a year ago.

This is the inaugural year of the program, meaning states that do not start the program this summer will have future opportunities to participate.. The goal is to make summer EBT available throughout the United States as soon as possible.

“No child should go through the summer hungry or without nutritious food. The Summer EBT is a big step forward in meeting the needs of our nation’s children and families throughout the year and especially during the summer months,” said Xochitl Torres Small, Undersecretary of Agriculture.