Ohio Program Will Help Feed 850,000 Vulnerable Children

COLUMBUS, OH — Eligible Ohio students and their families will receive benefits allowing them to buy meals in the coming weeks. Ohio's Pandemic EBT program was approved by the federal government this week, allowing state agencies to distribute SNAP benefits to 850,000 students across Ohio who receive free or reduced-price meal programs.

One in four Ohio school children receive free or reduced-price meals through their schools. As the academic year comes to a close, those children faced the prospect of a long summer. The Pandemic EBT program will help those children and their families.

Families will receive approximately $300 to buy healthy food to feed their children. The state estimates this will result in $250 million being spent at grocery stores and other retailers. Nearly 850,000 students in Ohio rely on reduced-price or free meal programs.

Families do not need to apply to receive the benefits.

The state's decision to pursue the Pandemic EBT plan was met with praise from politicians and research groups in Ohio.

“So many of Ohio’s children, and their families, have had to endure nearly two months without access to the critical nutrition they need. Today’s decision to enact the P-EBT program will mean a lot to families who are struggling during this time,” said John Corlett, Community Solutions’ executive director.