Summer Food Assistance

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer — Summer EBT — is a federal program to help families with school-aged children buy food. Students who receive state aid, such as cash assistance or Medicaid, or those who attend a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program are eligible. Families can get $120 for three months of benefits from June to August. Benefits will be issued Aug.10, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

If a child is already receiving food assistance, the additional benefits will be loaded onto the Bridge card. Otherwise, they will receive a card via mail.

Students who have already been approved for free and reduced meals by completing a school meals and Summer EBT application, or the education benefits form for schools that are part of the Community Eligibility Provision, do not need to apply for the Summer EBT program, according to MDHHS. Those who receive state assistance do not need to apply either. All other students must contact their schools to complete a form.

For more information, go to bit.ly/MichiganSummerEBT.

Meet Up and Eat Up

Michigan’s Summer Food Service Program, also known as Meet Up and Eat Up, provides free meals to low-income children at locations across the state. For more information about locations and service dates and times, go to the online tracker: www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup