HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers' decision not to participate in the summer EBT program for 2024 will see some negative consequences. "It's disheartening, it's disappointing, and also it has a negative impact," Alabama Arise hunger policy advocate LaTrell Clifford Wood shares. "You will see nearly half a million children go without food or miss meals in the summer months. What our partners at Feeding Alabama have seen is that as recently as 2022, there have been gaps in summer meals, particularly when it comes to summer feeding programs, which are very worthy programs however, they only address 6% of those students that would rely on free and reduced meals during the school year and so what we see is that 94% of those children are likely to miss meals in the summer months."
Places like the Food Bank of North Alabama will also see some effects. "The way it impacts us is that we'll just see an increase in need," Development Director Bobby Bozeman shares. "You know, we also are the primary source of food for 220 organizations throughout North Alabama, places like Manna House, Downtown Rescue Mission, Salvation Army so as they see that increased need, then they come to us and are requesting more food. So, we'll have to make sure that we keep the food bank stocked and ready for the increased need."
The decision to opt out is interesting considering Alabama was one of the first states to participate. "In 2020 when we entered the pandemic, it was in summer, it was instituted in an emergency in the pandemic, as a meal replacement, a school meal and so Alabama was actually one of the first states to opt into that program that was fully federally funded," Wood shares.
The decision came due to increased administrative cost when the federal government cut that part of the funding, the state decided to opt out. A statement released by the Govenor's office states "Alabama fully participated in the program during the pandemic years, the time for which the program was created and intended. Now, in 2024, the pandemic is behind us, and federal changes have significantly increased the state’s cost to administer it."
Alabama arise is hoping that lawmakers consider making the right choice for 2025. "So, this is not a bill that would authorize the program but what we are asking for Alabama Arise is for an appropriation of $15 million from the education trust fund that would generate a 600% return on investment and effectively bolster our economy and help feed our children. over the summer months," Wood shares.
Today leaders took the first step in that choice by voting unanimously to appropriate $10 million for Summer EBT Administrative Funding from the 2025 Education Trust Fund Budget.
Wood shared her excitement in a press release. “Every child needs and deserves healthy meals throughout the year. That’s why Alabama Arise is excited that the Senate’s education budget committee voted to include Summer EBT funding in the 2025 education budget. We hope that every legislator will support this important investment in child nutrition, and that Gov. Kay Ivey will sign it into law."
Until 2025 the Food Bank of North Alabama is prepared to meet the needs of the community. "Either way, we are, you know, prepared to serve people across 11 counties of North Alabama were experiencing food insecurity during the summer," Bozeman shares. "We would need to make sure that we turn up and have food for available for everybody who needs it. There's a lot of families that won't have, you know, any other option this summer."
A list of programs FBONA can be found here.