LINCOLN – A federally funded summer food aid program for low-income youths — which Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen initially rejected but later accepted — wrapped up with greater-than-anticipated participation.

Nebraska officials have already signed up for next summer.

“Lots of families we’ve talked to are saying they were able to stretch their dollars longer, buy healthier foods because of these benefits,” said Eric Savaiano, food and nutrition access for nonprofit Nebraska Appleseed. “We’re really proud of our state for getting it up and going.”

Early on, state officials estimated that 175,000 students, or 80,000 households, would be eligible to receive grocery assistance through the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program.

Appleseed, in pushing Nebraska to participate in the optional program largely funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, had estimated that 150,000 kids who qualify for free and reduced school lunches would be eligible.

As it turned out, the initiative across the state served 199,272 students, or 121,855 families, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Under the Summer EBT initiative, each qualifying child receives a card to be used like a debit card loaded with a total of $120 in grocery-buying benefits. The effort, administered by DHHS in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education, is designed by the federal government to provide access to nutritious food during summer months when school is out.

Nebraska’s participation translated into the distribution of nearly $24 million in grocery benefits, the state said.

Shannon Grotrian, director of the DHHS Office of Economic Assistance, said officials are “thrilled with the success” of the program she said has made a “significant impact on our communities.”

“This program reflects our dedication to ensuring that every child has access to healthy meals, and we look forward to continuing this important work together,” said Grotrian.

The summer food program drew extensive attention after Pillen balked late last year at opting into it, describing Summer EBT as a leftover from the pandemic that he said was now over. 

He later added that he didn’t believe in “welfare,” which prompted more criticism.

Pillen ultimately reversed his stand on accepting the youth-focused food aid.

He added a twist when implementing the program, which state officials dubbed the “Nebraska way” of providing additional outreach that connected families with other resources as well. 

The DHHS said the outreach led to about 5,000 referrals for Nebraska families in need of help with utility payments, health care, child care assistance and behavioral health resources.

About 2,000 families were referred to a separate and supplemental food service program, operated by the Nebraska Department of Education, in which kids visit community sites that offer free meals. A total of 6,650 families were provided meals in 2024 through that Summer Food Service Program, DHHS said, a 21% increase from the previous year.

Federal rules for  the Summer EBT program called for benefits to be used within 122 days of issuance via the cards — or they’d be expunged and returned to the federal government.

Savaiano suspects that a better system of “getting the word out” contributed to higher than expected participation in the summer program. 

He credited the state for its efforts, which also included informational websites.

The state more recently sent out letters notifying families of expiration dates as they approached.