LINCOLN — Nebraska’s plan to carry out the once-controversial Summer EBT food program for low-income youths has been given the green light from the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the state’s planned rollout of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, which include details such as “touchpoints” that local officials designed to improve outreach, according to a media release Monday from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
So-called touchpoints include providing Nebraska parents with information on types of nutritious foods to buy and follow-up surveys to identify additional needs or concerns.
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175,000 students
State officials expect the Summer EBT program to serve about 175,000 students, or 80,000 households that meet certain criteria, including an income that makes them eligible for free or reduced-price lunch during the school year.
That count is up from an earlier estimate of about 150,000 children anticipated to benefit at a state cost of about $400,000 per year to administer the federally-funded program.
Each qualified child is to receive a card loaded with a total of $120 in grocery-buying benefits. The program is designed to allow access to nutritious food during summer months when school is out.
Modeled after pilot projects and a nationwide pandemic-era initiative that ended, Congress authorized the more permanent summer program through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
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State Sen. Jen Day of Gretna during the past legislative session introduced Legislative Bill 952, which stalled but had been prioritized by Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island to push the state to implement the federal program.
Gov. Jim Pillen had balked at opting in, describing the program as a leftover from the pandemic that had ended.
He later added that he didn’t believe in “welfare,” which brought more criticism because the governor, a hog producer and co-owner of a pork processing plant, has accepted federal assistance.
Already, Pillen had been flooded by pleas from food banks, advocates of the poor and protesters.
Ultimately the governor reversed his stand, attributing the change of heart to a visit with Aguilar, a Republican, and discussions he had with students at Boys Town and during a youth legislative day.
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Big step
Day, who had led a letter-writing effort supported by 15 state lawmakers, said Monday that although Nebraska was one of the last states to opt in to the new summer program, it was the fourth in the nation to have its plan approved.
“I’m glad that we’ll be able to feed 175,000 Nebraska kids this summer and relieve some of the economic stress that many families are feeling right now,” Day said.
She praised the work of the DHHS and Department of Education in crafting the plan.
“These programs are crucial for making sure that kids in our state receive nutritious meals during the months they are not in school,” DHHS CEO Steve Corsi said in a statement.
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A spokeswoman for the USDA said the agency is pleased Nebraska chose to participate.
“We are impressed that the state’s plan includes a range of services to reach kids and also robust outreach to the community,” said Cheryl Kennedy, regional administrator for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. “This will be a great benefit to the children of Nebraska.”
Eric Savaiano, food and access manager for Nebraska Appleseed, a nonprofit that fought early on for participation in the program, said federal approval of Nebraska’s plan is a big step. Now, he said, there is contact information and other detail available for families.
“This puts details behind the program that means it is actually going to happen,” Savaiano said.
In addition to the Summer EBT program, the State Department of Education said it also is administering the Summer Food Service Program, which provides no-cost meals to kids from age 1 to 18 at about 300 sites across Nebraska.
No applications or paperwork are required to receive meals from approved Summer Food Service Program sites, most of which begin providing meals the first week of June.
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Summer EBT eligibility
School-age, income-qualified youths are eligible for Summer EBT cards.
According to DHHS, kids already approved for free and reduced-priced school lunches, or who participate in state-administered public assistance, should receive their cards by mail and don’t have to formally apply.
If in doubt, or for more information on eligibility and application, the state offers a website for the Summer EBT program and the Summer Food Service Program: https://dhhs.ne.gov/SummerEBT.
Once a Summer EBT card is received and activated, it can be used like any other EBT card.
Cards are accepted at approved SNAP retailers, supermarkets and grocery stores. For a list, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator
Another weekend series victory for Nebraska baseball.
NU beat Michigan State twice out of three games to take the series in East Lansing. That gives the Big Red five consecutive series wins in Big Ten Conference play.
Nebraska improves to 34-19, including 16-8 in Big Ten play to finish second in the standings. Michigan State ends its season at 23-28.
Thursday
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The home team got out in front early, notching one run in the first inning. But that would be it for the Spartans as Brett Sears (6.2 IP) and Caleb Clark (2.1 IP) held Michigan State to just one run on eight hits for the day. Nebraska, meanwhile, added a run in each of the third and fourth innings before holding on down the stretch for the 2-1 win.
Friday
Game two was all Nebraska from the get-go. The Huskers racked up 11 runs on 13 hits, including five runs over the first two innings, to run away with the win 11-3. Riley Silva posted a 3-for-5 day at the plate. Josh Caron and Dylan Carey both hit home runs.
Saturday
A high scoring affair to close out the series and regular-season, Michigan State jumped out to a 6-0 lead with a pair of runs in each of the first three innings. Despite a four-run sixth for the Huskers, the Spartan offense was too much, taking the series finale 11-6. Case Sanderson went 3-for-5 to lead the Big Red at the plate.
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Nebraska will be the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament next week in Omaha. The rest of the tournament will be decided Saturday.
The Huskers entered their second game of the series against Michigan State Friday night. Nebraska brought the bats to the game, delivering 11 runs to clinch the weekend series with an 11-3 win, improving to 16-7 in the conference to stay right behind Illinois for the top seed.
The Huskers finished the night with 13 hits and a home run, while Michigan State totaled its three runs off six hits. Nebraska took a strong lead early on, tallying up five runs through the first two innings to go up 5-0. The Spartans scored three runs in the sixth to cut the lead down, but the Huskers delivered six unanswered runs to put the game away.
Case Sanderson led Nebraska in the batter’s box, earning three hits and three RBIs. Riley Silva also finished the night with three hits and a stolen base. Josh Caron and Dylan Carey meanwhile sent the ball over the wall. Caron delivered a two-run home run in the first inning, while Carey nailed a solo shot in the ninth. Cayden Brumbaugh, Ben Columbus and Joshua Overbeek each pitched in an RBI of their own.
Mason McConnaughey took the win at the mound for the Huskers, allowing three runs across five hits through 5.2 innings. The sophomore struck out five batters as well. Jalen Worthley pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and Casey Daiss tossed a shutout eighth inning. Kyle Froehlich closed out the game for Nebraska, going three-up, three-down in the ninth.
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Nebraska improves 34-18 on the season and will conclude the regular season against Michigan State on Saturday morning. The first pitch is set for 11 a.m. and can be viewed on Big Ten Network.