Hunger

Texas is one of about a dozen states that won't be participating in a federal program that provides families with $120 per eligible child to buy groceries while school is out.

Texas was one of 13 states last year that did not participate in a new federal program providing eligible families with $120 per child over the summer to help pay for groceries while school is out. The state must say whether it plans to participate in the Summer EBT program by Jan. 1.

More than half of families with school-aged children faced food insecurity over the last year. Parents also said concerns over whether they can afford nutritious food for their households is taking a toll on their mental health.

A recent change in federal rules gives rural districts more options for providing summer meals. The change has allowed Smithville ISD to increase the number of kids getting healthy meals while school is out.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said last summer, participating sites served more than 13 million meals statewide. Dozens of schools in Central Texas will be offering free meals starting in late May and early June.

The Central Texas Food Bank officially launched its Feeding Futures School Pantry Program at a Del Valle ISD elementary school on Wednesday. The organization hopes to provide 30 meals per student each month.

Nearly 1 in 6 Texas households are food insecure, significantly higher than the national average. That’s 1.7 million households in Texas, about 300,000 more than the year before.

While Congress made school meals free for all children throughout most of the pandemic, that program expired in June 2022. Georgetown ISD officials said the change was jarring for families and outstanding meal balances started to rise during the first few months of the school year.

For many young people, the toughest choice they will ever have to make about food is what to eat at home or what to choose from a menu.But for Texas high…

From Texas Standard:Representatives from Texas food banks will gather at the Capitol on Tuesday to talk with legislators about food insecurity and lobby…