Missouri joins federal program offering summer food benefits for kids: 'An important win'

The program would provide $40 in food benefits for each month an eligible child is on summer break, loaded onto a card that can be used like a debit card to purchase groceries. Missouri's decision is nonbinding, and the state now has until Feb. 15 to submit a detailed plan to the federal government.
Missouri has made the tentative decision to participate in a federal food assistance program for kids, potentially opening the door for millions of dollars in aid through a program called Summer EBT.

However, the decision is not binding and Missouri still has to submit a detailed plan to the federal government on how it plans to run the program and secure the necessary administrative funds.

The state had until Jan. 1 to take this initial step or foreclose the option to participate entirely.

“We’ll still have some work to do to support (the Department of Social Services) in putting together all of the pieces needed to actually receive these critical funds,” said Mallory Rusch, executive director of the nonprofit Empower Missouri, which urged the state to submit the letter of intent. “Nonetheless, this is an important win.”