TELL TENNESSEE OFFICIALS: Support Summer EBT!

The Summer EBT program, which provides $120 per eligible child for eligible families to purchase groceries over the summer months, has proven to be a crucial resource for many Tennessee households, helping more than 650,000 kids statewide last year.Yet despite the enormous impact the program has had, the state does not plan to continue the Summer EBT into 2025 or beyond.

We need your help.

With the deadline to secure Summer EBT funding this year in Tennessee quickly approaching, now is the time for state leaders to hear from you. Write to them today and urge them to support Summer EBT.

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

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Tennesseans support Summer EBT

Dear [Decision Maker],

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Last summer, the Summer EBT program reached more than 700,000 eligible Tennessee children, ensuring they had access to nutritious food during the summer months.

But summer hunger continues to be a problem in our state. According to a recent survey commissioned by No Kid Hungry, 71% of Tennessee families who qualify for Summer EBT report struggling to afford enough food during the summer months. While traditional summer meal sites are valuable, they reach only a fraction of eligible families due to a variety of barriers-- lack of transportation, work conflicts, lack of nearby meal sites, and extreme summer weather, to name a few.

That's why Summer EBT, which provides a federal grocery benefit of $120 per eligible child over the summer, is vital in our state and why we should continue offering the program.

In fact, according to the survey, 86% of adults across the political spectrum statewide want to see Tennessee continue to participate in the program.

These additional benefits help families purchase nutritious food for their children so they can grow up healthy, well-nourished and strong.

But Summer EBT does more than fight food insecurity. It's a powerful economic driver. Every dollar spent through the program generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in local economic activity, benefiting grocery stores, farmers' markets, and small businesses--especially in rural communities. Last year, Summer EBT pumped over 78 million federal dollars into the state. This infusion of funds strengthens local economies and supports hardworking Tennesseans.

If Tennessee chooses not to offer Summer EBT it would be a significant setback for families and the state. By opting out of this vital program, the state is effectively losing out on both the financial benefits and resources that ensure kids get the nutrition they need. This decision would not only deepen food insecurity across our state but also undermine Tennessee's efforts to ensure that every child has the chance to reach their full potential.

I urge you to fight for kids by being a champion for Summer EBT this year.

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