Memphis school meal sites continue, expand for summer
Memphis families who qualify for free and reduced lunch are poised to receive around $250 per child over the next two months through the state’s Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program.
Tennessee families can expect around $5.70 per child per day, multiplied by the number of days school was canceled due to COVID-19 in that month. The figure is meant to represent the reimbursement for the free breakfast and lunch students receive when school in session.
Families who do not already receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but whose children do qualify for free or reduced school meals, will need to apply for the program online.
The deadline to do so is June 29, according to the Department of Human Services. The application is on the department’s website. The department directs anyone with general questions or in need of assistance with the application to call its hotline at 1-833-496-0661 and select option 3.
Families who currently receive SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits don’t have to submit an application. On June 12, some of the funding began arriving on the EBT cards families already use, according to the media release.
Qualifying families will receive P-EBT support in two installments, the release said: One for meals in March and April, and then one additional disbursement in July for school meals missed in May.
According to its federal letter of approval, Tennessee anticipates disbursing around $180 million to 718,000 children across the state due to school closures caused by COVID-19 that occurred during the spring semester.
In its application, the state estimated $82.8 million will go to 330,000 Snapeligible children and $97.3 million to 388,000 children who are not SNAP eligible. The benefits will be disbursed for school closures between March 23 and May 22, for a total of 44 days, the letter states.
“Families across our state depend on the meals their children receive at school and many were not prepared to immediately replace those meals when schools shut down for COVID-19,” TDHS Commissioner Danielle W. Barnes said in a statement. “The P-EBT program brings economic support to ensure children receive the nutrition they need. Helping families through this emergency is how we continue building a thriving Tennessee.”
Receiving meals from emergency sites does not disqualify families from P-EBT program benefits, according to the release.
For now, YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-south is continuing meal distribution through June.
Beginning in July, Shelby County Schools is partnering with YMCA to expand the meal program by reopening its Central Nutrition Center. The goal is to serve more than 60,000 meals per day. New cleaning procedures and trainings are in place at the CNC, the district said in a release.
The Summer Food Service Program partnership will allow community organizations to become new meal sites. Organizations can apply online and email food@ymcamemphis.org with additional questions.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the program can visit www.ymcamemphis.org to sign-up.
“During the COVID-19 school closures, we saw an incredible, herculean effort to keep providing meal services to students and families,” Penny Schwinn, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education said in a statement. “This additional relief from P-EBT will be helpful during this time of uncertainty for families and it is important to make sure every eligible family knows about the program.”
Laura Testino covers education and children’s issues for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at laura.testino@ commercialappeal.com or 901-512-3763. Find her on Twitter: @Ldtestino
Laura Testino