Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan touts summer EBT program that provides grocery money to children of low-income families

Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan celebrated the Summer EBT program Thursday at the American Indian Magnet School in St. Paul.

Summer EBT, electronic benefit transfer meals program, is a new income-based food initiative that provides families with food money per eligible school-aged child. The "Sun Bucks" enable them to buy groceries during the summer.

"When summer EBT was announced by the USDA, we made sure that Minnesota was the first state in the nation to commit to implementing this program," says Lt. Governor Flanagan.

The program began in April and has given relief to thousands.

"More than $55 million of grocery buying benefits to nearly 457,000 Minnesota children," Flanagan said.

Improved diet quality can improve performance in the classroom according to the Centers for Disease Control. 42% of US high school students with mostly A’s ate breakfast on all 7 days compared to 20% of students with mostly D's and F’s.

The program provides $120 dollars per eligible school-aged child to buy groceries during the summer when school is out. Second Harvest Heartland notes that last year, over 180,000 estimated kids in Minnesota struggled with food insecurity.

For Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, this hits all too close to home.

"I know what a difference these programs can make," Flanagan explained. "I was a kid who grew up in free, reduced price lunch, Snap, which we called food stamps back in the day. It allowed my family to keep food on the table."

Find more information about Sun Bucks in Minnesota here .