NH Delegation Calls on USDA to Give State Flexibility to Implement Summer Meals Program for Children 

The New Hampshire delegation sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calling on the agency to support the State of New Hampshire’s participation in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT). With more than half of Granite State children living in food insecure households, it is critical that families are able to put nutritious food on the table through the Summer EBT program. If implemented, 39,000 children in New Hampshire would be eligible for this program. 

In part the Delegation wrote, “We have heard from New Hampshire families, food pantries and food security advocates that food insecurity is on the rise in New Hampshire. Recent survey data shows that over half (52 percent) of ‘New Hampshire children lived in households that reported having insufficient food.’ In recent years, New Hampshire has lagged behind the rest of the nation in its participation in federal nutrition programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and School Breakfast Program […] The Summer EBT program will be a critical tool in combatting child hunger in New Hampshire and helping families put food on the table during the summer – Granite Staters cannot afford to miss out on this resource.” 

The Delegation concluded, “As USDA considers the State of New Hampshire’s Summer EBT management and administration plan, we urge the agency to exercise maximum flexibility to make New Hampshire’s participation workable. We hope this flexibility will include working with the State of New Hampshire to determine an issuance deadline for Summer EBT benefits that is feasible for New Hampshire.” 

The full text of the letter can be found here.