MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama was one of 14 states that declined to participate in a federal program that gives summer food assistance to low-income families with school age children, prompting advocates on Wednesday to urge lawmakes to reverse course and join the program.
At a public hearing on the proposed education budget, several organizations urged legislators to set aside funding for Alabama to participate in 2025.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow learn and dream without the burden of hunger weighing them down,” Rhonda Mann, executive director of VOICES for Alabama’s Children told the Finance and Taxation-Education Committee.
The program called Summer EBT, or Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, provides families $40 per month for each child receiving free and reduced-price school lunches. That would be about $120 to spend on groceries over the summer break. The program is intended to augment existing summer meal sites to help combat food insecurity in the summer months.
How US changes to 'noncompete' agreements and overtime pay could affect workers
Gwen Stefani, 54, arrives to Coachella in style on a private jet ahead of highly
Pilot carbon sink trading yields profit, eco benefits in rural China
Hayao Miyazaki's animated fantasy leads Chinese box office
Four people in hospital after Household Cavalry horses' six
Ice and snow tourism propels NE China into high
HKSAR LegCo unanimously passes national security bill
2 dead, 3 missing as ship hits bridge in south China
Car dealership to cut 250 jobs and close 16 sites just months after being taken over by a US firm
Specialty agricultural products drive rural development