When school is out for the summer, kids lose access to healthy school meals. This year, there are two programs in Oregon that will improve access until school starts again.
Summer Food Service Program
The Summer Food Service Program helps fill the gap by providing free nutritious meals to children and teens over the summer.
Meals are available to any child 18 and under without regard to race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), age or disability.
There are more than 450 summer meal sites in Oregon. Families can look up locations in their area by: calling 2-1-1, texting “Food” or “Comida” to 304-304, or visiting oregon.gov/ode.
Summer EBT Reminder
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is a new grocery benefits program that starts this summer. Families will get $120 for each eligible child. They will receive the benefits in one payment on an Oregon EBT card.
Families that have SNAP, TANF or OHP don’t need to apply. Summer EBT food benefits will be added to their Oregon EBT card automatically.
Families that do not have SNAP, TANF or OHP and may be eligible will need to apply. Children are likely to qualify if they go to schools with free or reduced-price meal programs and live in households that meet income requirements for those programs. Families can go to sebt.oregon.gov to check if their child may be eligible.
