Summer EBT Action Kit Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger

Join the Mayors Alliance and No Kid Hungry in celebrating Summer EBT!

Table of Contents

Dear Mayors,

Thank you for joining the Mayors Alliance and No Kid Hungry in celebrating the historic investments in summer meals for kids. Mayors across the country have been an integral part of fighting against summer hunger and we’re thrilled to have you continue advocating alongside us as we work to successfully implement these new programs and ensure that no kid goes hungry during the summer months.

As you know, the summer months can be the hungriest time of the year for kids across the nation. And while summer meals programs were designed to help connect kids with the nutrition they need when schools are closed, they’ve historically reached only a fraction of eligible children.

But this summer is looking brighter!

At the end of 2022, Congress approved a significant investment in how we reach kids with the food they need in the summer – an incredible step forward in ending childhood hunger in the U.S and one the most consequential changes to federal nutrition programs in years. Now, states and communities have more tools than ever to ensure that millions more kids have access to the nutrition they need in the summer through traditional summer meals, non-congregate meal options in rural communities and Summer EBT which allows families who qualify to purchase groceries in the summer when school is not in session.

Together, these programs will address the long-standing summer meals gap.

Summer EBT is an especially powerful tool in our fight against summer hunger as it has been evaluated and proven to reduce the number of kids with very low food security by one-third. Summer EBT will also alleviate barriers since recipients will be able to grocery shop online via participating platforms like Instacart, a sponsor of the Mayors Alliance (learn more here).

As states begin implementing Summer EBT for the first time ever, we have an important opportunity to continue the momentum for this program, which has the potential to reach nearly 21 million kids this summer and up to 30 million kids once it is fully implemented in every state.

Thank you for joining us in gratitude and excitement. This action kit provides you with resources to share this moment with stakeholders in your community.

Thank you for using your voice and influence on behalf of our nation’s kids!

Aaron Goldstein, Senior Manager, Local Government Relations, Share Our Strength

Summer Meals Talking Points

This summer has the power to be a transformative year for millions of kids across the country. Congress took action and now states and communities are implementing both traditional summer meals as well as new programs that will address the long-standing summer meals gap.

This year in particular is an exciting time for Summer EBT implementation in dozens of states, U.S. territories and Tribes that have opted into the program in 2024. The full list of participating states is available here.

While Summer EBT won’t be operational in all states, this is still significant progress in the fight against hunger and it’s crucial to recognize the nuance behind some of these tough decisions. For example, some states face constraints like not having the technical infrastructure to successfully launch the program this year; not enough time to plan and prepare for its implementation; and, funding concerns. While the federal government is fully covering the benefits that go to eligible families, states are required to cover 50% of the administrative costs.

The good news is that many states that haven't opted in this year are making plans to do so in the future. So, let's help encourage them to plan and prepare for next year so more kids can access these essential, game-changing benefits in summer 2025 and beyond.

As you talk about summer meals and Summer EBT:

Do

  • Be Positive
  • Focus on the potential reach of Summer EBT in your state
  • Thank your Governor for opting into Summer EBT if your state is participating this year
  • Encourage your Governor to implement Summer EBT in the future if your state isn't participating this year

Don’t

  • Make it political
  • Shame states for not implementing Summer EBT this year

Contact Your Governor

As a local leader, it's critical to engage with all levels of government to ensure that every eligible kid has access to the nutrition they need during the summer months. Here are some tips and best practices when contacting your Governor:

Be Brief: Keep your letter or email no longer than one page.

Be Personal: Tell your Governor who you are at the top of your letter and explain why ending summer hunger is important to you, your community or your state.

Be Positive: It’s important to express gratitude for states implementing Summer EBT and encouragement for other states to follow suit. If your state is implementing Summer EBT this year: thank your Governor for making this important investment towards ending summer hunger by ensuring that families can access the summer nutrition options that work best for them. If your state is not implementing Summer EBT this year: encourage your Governor to join the growing list of states who are ensuring that families can access the summer nutrition options that work best for them.

Spread the Word on Social Media

Social media can be a powerful platform. Help spread the word and build momentum for Summer EBT this year and beyond. Feel free to use the examples below if you need a little inspiration, and be sure to add #MayorsHungerAlliance and @NoKidHungry so we can help amplify your posts.

If you live in a state implementing Summer EBT:

I’m so excited to be joining the #MayorsHungerAlliance and @NoKidHungry in celebrating the big investments recently made to summer meals for kids! It’s programs like Summer EBT, which helps families buy food in the summer, that are going to #EndSummerHunger for millions of kids. A huge shoutout for my home state of [STATE] for implementing it this summer!
For too long, summer has been the hungriest time of the year for kids. But not this year! Thanks to a combination of summer meals, meal delivery and pick up services in rural communities, and a new program that helps families buy food in the summer, more kids will have access to nutritious food than ever before.
Proud to work alongside the #MayorsHungerAlliance and @NoKidHungry to celebrate the implementation of Summer EBT in dozens of states this year, including my own. This program helps families buy food in the summer and has the potential to reach as many as 21 million kids with the nutrition they need. Let’s #EndSummerHunger!
As April showers bring us May flowers, I’m looking forward to an even brighter summer ahead! Along with the #MayorsHungerAlliance and @NoKidHungry I’m celebrating big changes to summer meals for kids, including a new program that will help more families buy the food they need in the summer.

If you live in a state not implementing Summer EBT this year:

I’m so excited to be joining the #MayorsHungerAlliance and @NoKidHungry in celebrating the big investments recently made to summer meals! It’s programs like Summer EBT, which helps families buy food in the summer, that are going to #EndSummerHunger for millions of kids. I hope to see my home state of [STATE] implement it in the near future.
For too long, summer has been the hungriest time of the year for kids. But not this year! Thanks to a combination of summer meals, meal delivery and pick up services in rural communities, and a new program that helps families buy food in the summer, more kids will have access to nutritious food than ever before. I’m proud to work alongside the #MayorsHungerAlliance and @NoKidHungry to make this game-changing combo of meal options available in more communities nationwide.
Proud to work alongside the #MayorsHungerAlliance and @NoKidHungry to build momentum for Summer EBT, a program that helps families buy food in the summer, in [STATE] this year. This program has the potential to reach many kids across my state with the nutrition they need. Let’s #EndSummerHunger!
As April showers bring us May flowers, I’m looking forward to an even brighter summer ahead! Along with #MayorsHungerAlliance and @NoKidHungry I’m celebrating big changes to summer meals for kids, including a new program that will help more families buy the food they need in the summer. Together we can #EndSummerHunger!

Downloadable Images

To download the images below: click on the image, then right click to save.

Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor (LTEs) in local media publications are a great way to build awareness and excitement. They help socialize an issue with the general public and are a key tool for influencing policymakers, their staff and the press to become better informed about an issue and how the public views it. Submitting an LTE in your community is a helpful way to celebrate the investments in summer meals that are either under way in your state or could be in the future. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Research the Guidelines. Many publications cap LTEs around 250 words but it can vary. Either research the specific outlet you’re submitting to or stick to this general word count so an editor doesn’t cut out any important points. Be prepared to share your name and contact information to verify that you wrote the letter.

Make it Local. Readers are most interested in an issue when they see how it affects their lives or their community. Consider including impact numbers around the potential reach of Summer EBT.

Maintain Message and Tone. It’s important to maintain a consistent positive message about the investments to summer meals and the opportunities these changes to the program can unlock for kids. Thank your state for opting into Summer EBT this year or encourage your state to implement the program in the future; no shaming, partisanship or personal attacks, please.

Contact

Questions? Please reach out to Aaron Goldstein, Senior Manager, Local Government Relations

Together, we can ensure every kid has access to nutritious meals over the summer!