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Summer EBT for Children Program Extends Food Benefits to Students In 18 Local School District

July 21, 2020

LANSING – Children in 38 counties who received free or reduced-price lunches qualify for summer food benefits under a program administered by 18 school districts, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced today.

MDE and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are sponsoring the 2020 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children program, administered by these 18 local and intermediate school districts: 

  • Alpena–Montmorency–Alcona Education Service District 
  • Crawford Oscoda Ogemaw Roscommon (C.O.O.R). Intermediate School District 
  • Charlevoix–Emmet Intermediate School District 
  • Clare–Gladwin Regional Education Service District 
  • Copper Country Intermediate School District 
  • Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District 
  • Dickinson–Iron Intermediate School District 
  • Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District 
  • Gogebic–Ontonagon Intermediate School District 
  • Huron Intermediate School District 
  • Iosco Regional Educational Service Agency 
  • Marquette–Alger Regional Educational Service Agency 
  • Mecosta–Osceola Intermediate School District 
  • Menominee Intermediate School District 
  • Sanilac Intermediate School District 
  • Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District 
  • Tuscola Intermediate School District 
  • West Shore Educational Service District – Lake County  

This program receives a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides food to students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals within select public school districts during the summer months. Summer 2020 marks the ninth year of the program in Michigan. All families surveyed in 2018 said they would use the program again if it was made available. More than 66,000 students will receive benefits this year.

Eligible students receive a Summer EBT Bridge Card in the mail. 

The 2020 Summer EBT for Children program began June 1 and benefits expire on September 7. Each student receives $30 in nutritious food per month for the three months of summer, including milk, eggs, fresh fruits, and vegetables. 

Cards and program materials are mailed directly to eligible families. The card comes pre-loaded with a nutritious food package that families can redeem in any WIC-authorized store. Once the family calls the number on the back of the card and enters a Personal Identification Number (PIN), the family can begin redeeming benefits.  

Eligible families can create an account on SEBTC Connect at https://sebtc.state.mi.us/ where they can find grocery stores near them; check on their benefits;, update their family information; and access helpful resources about how to use SEBTC.  
School districts were selected based on recommendations from the USDA, MDE, and the WIC program, and those areas without sufficient summer food service programs were prioritized for this summer.   

For more information about the Summer EBT for Children program, visit https://sebtc.state.mi.us/, or call 888-265-3291.