By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas Appleseed, a nonprofit advocacy organization, reminded those who had children that missed their school lunch this spring that there are government funds available to help buy food now, but you have to sign up this week.
"Back in March of this year, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law by the President after being passed by Congress," said Haley Kottler-Shores with Kansas Appleseed. "This law did a lot of things, but mostly it allowed the USDA and states the necessary flexibility to address to address food insecurity during the pandemic. What Pandemic EBT is, is Kansas families with students on free and reduced price meals are eligible for additional food assistance."
The Pandemic EBT restrictions are a bit different, as the free and reduced price meal income numbers are different than those that generally exist for SNAP eligibility.
"If you were going to see this benefit, you should have already seen it," Kottler-Shores said. "We are hearing a lot of families have not received it yet. We're asking folks to contact their school district or DCF."
The Pandemic EBT program expires on July 31.