Tell Tennessee Officials: Restore Summer EBT!

Right now, Governor Lee and the Tennessee state legislature have the opportunity to restore Summer EBT and help more than 650,000 children across the state. This means eligible Tennessee families would receive $120 per child for groceries over the summer—funded by federal dollars with minimal state investment. Your dollar isn't going as far as it once did, and families across Tennessee are feeling the squeeze. Summer EBT offers a proven solution that families have already experienced and want back.

With the legislative session underway, it's crucial for Governor Lee and state leaders to hear from you.

Personalizing your letter below will go further. To make your message more effective, please share why it's important to you to support families and kids in your community.

Your Information

*Required fields

* Title:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Your Email:

* Address 1*

Address 2

* City:

* State / Province:

* ZIP / Postal Code:

* Phone Number:

Yes, I would like to receive periodic updates and communications from Share Our Strength

Remember me. What's this?

Message

Restore Summer EBT!

Dear [Decision Maker],

* Personalize your message

When school lets out, too many Tennessee kids face food insecurity. Our dollars aren't going as far as they once did, and summer is when families feel the squeeze most. Kids lose access to school meals, and parents are left struggling to fill the gap. According to a 2024 survey, 71% of Tennessee families who qualify for Summer EBT often find themselves without enough money for food, and 62% struggle to provide their kids with enough nutritious food when school is out.

Tennessee families previously had Summer EBT support, and they saw firsthand how it made a difference. Summer EBT offers a real solution. Eligible families would receive $120 per child to buy groceries over the summer. No driving to meal sites, no work schedule conflicts, just the flexibility to stock their kitchens with healthy proteins, fresh produce, and other foods their kids need, when they need it.

Here's what makes this a smart decision for Tennessee: the state could bring in around $78 million in federal dollars with minimal state investment. That's an exceptional return. Every dollar generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in economic activity. We're talking about an estimated $139 million impact for the state, flowing directly into grocery stores, farmers' markets, and small businesses across Tennessee, especially in rural communities. This infusion of federal funds strengthens local economies and supports hardworking Tennesseans.

Summer EBT would also dramatically expand access compared to the state's existing program, which served about 18,000 children in just 15 counties last year. For a similar investment, Summer EBT could reach children across all 95 counties, making it a far more effective and equitable approach.

And the vast majority of Tennesseans support this. A strong majority of Tennessee adults (86%) believe the state should participate in Summer EBT, while 81% worry that elected officials will decline federal funding despite the program's permanent authorization. Families know summer shouldn't mean kids go without nutritious food.

This is straightforward: restore Summer EBT, unlock federal dollars, help families afford groceries, and strengthen local economies. Tennessee's children deserve this investment.

I'm asking you to champion Summer EBT for Tennessee families.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]