Mississippi misses out on federal summer meal aid for children, advocates say

For the third consecutive year, Mississippi has declined to participate in a federal program providing summer grocery benefits to children who rely on free school meals, according to state officials and advocacy groups.

The program, called SUN Bucks, awards $120 per eligible child during summer months. Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia are enrolled, but Mississippi’s governor, Tate Reeves, chose not to participate, turning down about $38 million in federal funding, sources said.

Nearly 75% of Mississippi students depend on free or reduced-price meals during the school year, according to the state Department of Education. Data from the Food Research and Action Center indicates that only one in four children who rely on these meals in Mississippi accessed in-person meal sites during summer 2023.

Reeves’ spokesperson, Shelby Wilcher, told Mississippi Today that the governor viewed SUN Bucks as a pandemic-era program not meant to be permanent. Wilcher added that Congress established the program in 2024, describing it as permanent, and called it a continuation of Pandemic EBT.

Advocates like Kelsey Boone of the Food Research and Action Center dispute that characterization. Boone emphasized that SUN Bucks is based on successful pilot programs dating back to 2011 and should be implemented regardless of the pandemic’s status. She said programs proven to reduce childhood hunger deserve support at all times.

Mississippi’s summer meals program offers boxed lunches at 320 sites, with some locations allowing families to pick up a week’s worth of food at once. However, transportation and work schedule challenges limit access, Boone said, highlighting the need for broader solutions like summer EBT benefits.

In 2024, after Reeves opted out, a Jackson-based nonprofit, Springboard to Opportunities, launched its own version of the summer benefits program. It now serves 327 families and 611 children in Jackson. The organization advocates for food choices that respect cultural preferences and dignity.

Springboard’s internal 2025 survey found that summer EBT disbursements reduced hunger among participating families by 83%. Jasmine Samuel, a single mother of three, shared her experience. She works at the Bingo Depot and struggles financially during summer, relying on free school meals for her children during the school year.

Samuel described how summer EBT helped her buy groceries without shame and alleviated her anxiety about feeding her children. She recounted past hardships when hunger caused her stress and expressed hope for continuing support. Samuel, who has worked since she was 17 and is pursuing a career in pharmacy, said she tries to teach her children the value of hard work while shielding them from the stigma of poverty.

Source: Original Article