Summer EBT program could feed over 500K Alabama children, 1 advocacy group says [Video]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Alabama lawmakers are close to passing the Education Trust Fund Budget, pending approval from the House.

A new version includes a $10 million allocation for the 2025 Summer EBT program to address children dealing with food insecurities.

Parents would receive $40 a month to cover their child’s food expenses, which Alabama Arise reports could cut down food hardship by 1/3.

“That reduction is very significant within terms of the programs that the USDA has available to address hunger and essentially makes it the most effective program at addressing food hardship thus far,” said Hunger Policy Advocate LaTrell Clifford Wood.

Wood adds over 500,000 Alabama children are living in households dealing with food insecurities.

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D) said children often rely on the free and reduced lunches at school for nutrition.

“Sometimes these school lunches are some of the only meals these kids get as a healthy lunch throughout the day,” Singleton …