Thread by @cheyne_andrew

#GreatNews! #SummerEBT is coming to California, after a decade of tireless advocacy led by @fractweets and the Western Region anti-hunger community #WRAHC

#Thread 🧵 on why this is so significant to fight child #hunger..

@Jess_Bartholow @ClaireCLane @cj_wong @GutierrezItzul

Congress passed #SummerEBT #SEBT in December, and states can start operating the program in Summer 2024.

Learn more on the federal law and state options from @fractweets: frac.org/summer-ebt

Get ready for really exciting #CAleg #CAbudget news..

@fractweets .@CASenateBudget @CASenateDems @NancySkinnerCA @SenToniAtkins @SenatorMenjivar's #CAbudget plan calls to prioritize #SummerEBT!

This is huge b/c states have to split administrative costs!
sbud.senate.ca.gov/sites/sbud.sen…

But things get even better..

@fractweets @CASenateBudget @CASenateDems @NancySkinnerCA @SenToniAtkins @SenatorMenjivar @Jess_Bartholow @SDHungerCo @SDFoodBank @CAFoodBanks @CAHungerAction @PolicyPolka .@CaliforniaDSS Director Kim Johnson testified last week in @SenatorMenjivar's @CASenateBudget hearing that @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom's #CAbudget #MayRevise will include a proposal on #SummerEBT!!! 👏🎉🔥

sbud.senate.ca.gov/sites/sbud.sen…

Now, it should come as no surprise that @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom would prioritize #SummerEBT - this continues his leadership of California's historic #SchoolMealsForAll!

But even before #SchoolMealsForAll, summer was the hungriest time for kids.. and the West has always led..

#SummerEBT was funded in the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Act & @USDA implemented as demonstration projects in 2011

frac.org/blog/2022-frac…

California never had an #SEBT project even though we always looked for ways to bring this to our hungry kids, and we were envious of Oregon's success in our #WestCoastBestCoast neighbor to the North!
@hungerfreeor @oregonfoodbank

.@SDHungerCo really put this issue on the map #WayBack in April 2014 with their report that laid out how bad child summer #hunger was, and the need for #SummerEBT alongside summer sites that provide critical enrichment and meals

static1.squarespace.com/static/5513090…

.@USDANutrition's 2016 evaluation proved the power of #SummerEBT: it lowered #VeryLowFoodSecurity the worst #hunger by 1/3, while overall food insecurity by 1/5. This is the rare intervention that actually aids the targeted kids the most!

fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/…

Meanwhile..

That supercharged our already relentless advocacy to get permanent #SEBT led by the West @PattyMurray & @RepMikeLevin (& #RepSusanDavis!) with the @CAHungerAction community alongside #WA advocates @ClaireCLane @cj_wong and the #WRAHC...

And when the #COVID19 #pandemic hit - we were ready: @Jess_Bartholow @CAFoodBanks @seiucalifornia & others called for food aid to kids when schools closed - in addition to supporting grab-and-go meals vital to feed kids & support classified workers, Congress created #PandemicEBT

It's hard to overstate how important #PEBT was: so far it's delivered some $6 billion in food benefits to hungry kids & families across California - nearly $12B GDP! - often some of the only #COVID relief for families barred from federal programs due to xenophobic exclusions

.@Rocio_Jones23 @HungerCenter report w/@CAFoodBanks is the definitive study on the impact of #PandemicEBT in California with moving interviews and survey of nearly 1500 #PEBT recipients, @CaliforniaDSS @CDENutrition & other stakeholders

cafoodbanks.org/blog/pandemic-…

Thankfully, unlike other areas including #SchoolMealsForAll, Congress didn't let #PEBT lapse and created permanent #SummerEBT!

Unfortunately, the offset cut #SNAP #EAs and accelerated the #HungerCliff that the West & sister allies across the US opposed:

endchildpovertyca.org/release-wester…

With the #GreatNews that @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom @CaliforniaDSS are ready to implement #SummerEBT, we are closer to a #HungerFree future for our kids!

If that wasn't good enough for you..

.@NancySkinnerCA's #SB368 & @CASenateBudget plan would strengthen #SEBT - please help @EndChildPovCA & our partners make this a priority in the #CAbudget!

endchildpovertyca.org/imagine-2023-p…