Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently announced Arkansas’ continued participation in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program through 2025. This program, which served 260,000 children last year, provides essential food benefits to families during the summer months when school meals are unavailable.
“Childhood hunger is a crisis – across America and especially in Arkansas,” said Governor Sanders. “I signed Arkansas up for Summer EBT last year to give us another tool in our fight to make sure no child goes to bed hungry. This program is vitally important for so many families, and I look forward to our state continuing its participation next year.”
A Vital Tool to Combat Food Insecurity
The Summer EBT program is designed to support families with children who qualify for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Each eligible child receives $120 in food benefits over the summer months, provided through pre-loaded EBT cards similar to those used in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“Making sure children have nutritious food to eat is one of our top priorities, and we are committed to doing everything we can to fight food insecurity in our state,” said Arkansas Department of Human Services Secretary Kristi Putnam. “Summer EBT is a powerful new program that supports families with children at a time when school meals may not be available.”
School-aged children receiving SNAP benefits or attending NSLP schools and qualifying for free or reduced meals are automatically eligible for the Summer EBT benefits. The program ensures that families can access groceries to maintain proper nutrition for their children during the summer break.
Leadership Driving Change
Governor Sanders’ leadership in addressing childhood hunger has been instrumental in Arkansas’ commitment to fighting food insecurity. During her first legislative session, she signed legislation to provide free breakfast and lunch to students previously eligible for reduced-cost meals. She has also directed her staff to develop further plans to tackle this issue in upcoming legislative sessions.
“We are pleased to partner with DHS to continue to offer this critical service to students,” said Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva. “Food insecurity struggles are often worse during the summer months when students are not in school, where they often receive their only meal of the day. Together, we are working to end hunger in Arkansas, and the Summer EBT program is one opportunity to help us ensure that the most needy students have the healthy meals they so desperately need.”
Legislative Support and Funding
The Arkansas Legislative Council recently approved $2.9 million to cover the state’s share of administrative costs for the Summer EBT program, which are split evenly between the state and the federal government. This funding highlights the state’s commitment to addressing food insecurity for children across Arkansas.
Under Governor Sanders’ leadership, Arkansas was among the first states to join the Summer EBT program in its inaugural year. By participating again in 2025, the state continues to make strides toward ensuring that no child faces hunger, even during the months when school meals are unavailable.
Through programs like Summer EBT, Arkansas is strengthening its commitment to supporting vulnerable families and addressing food insecurity as a critical priority. As the state works to implement new initiatives and expand existing ones, the program serves as a cornerstone in the fight against childhood hunger.
