The Muscogee Nation is partnering with the Chickasaw Nation, the Cherokee Nation, Hunger Free Oklahoma, and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to introduce the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) to the Muscogee Nation Reservation. Summer EBT provides additional nutritional support to eligible children during the summer months when they do not have access to school meals. About 105,000 children are eligible to receive a food package valued at $120 during the summer in Creek, Hughes, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, McIntosh, Muscogee, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties. Both the Cherokee Nation and the Chickasaw Nation have been operating Summer EBT in their own reservations for multiple years. By partnering with them, the Muscogee Nation is leveraging their expertise to provide program benefits to Muscogee families. Hunger Free Oklahoma is supporting the initiative by providing customer service to program participants.
What is Summer EBT?
Summer EBT is a new federal program that provides benefits to buy groceries to qualifying families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer. Summer EBT benefits come in the form of pre-loaded cards (like a debit card) that families can use to purchase groceries at participating stores.
Beginning in summer 2024, families can receive a food package valued at $120 per eligible child in the Muscogee Nation Reservation. These benefits work together with other available programs, such as summer meals for kids, SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), WIC, and Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation (FDPIR or commodities) to help ensure children have consistent access to critical nutrition when school is out.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible to receive Summer EBT through Muscogee Nation, a student must attend an eligible school district, AND one of the following:
- Participate in the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program at school, or
- Meet the income guidelines for Free and Reduced Price Meals, or
- Participate in SNAP (food stamps), WIC, SoonerCare (Medicaid), Food Distribution on Indian Reservation (FDPIR or commodities), or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or
- Be enrolled in foster care.
Children living within the Muscogee Reservation who attend virtual charter schools or are homeschooled might be eligible if they meet one of the following criteria:
- Participate in SNAP (food stamps), WIC, SoonerCare (Medicaid), Food Distribution on Indian Reservation (FDPIR or commodities), or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or
- Be enrolled in foster care.
How to Apply
You might not need to apply; many schools have enrolled eligible students already! To check and see if you’re eligible and if your school may have already submitted your students’ information visit OKSEBT.org and check your school’s eligibility. If your school is eligible, specific instructions related to your school and how to apply will appear.
Key Features of Summer EBT
The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program provides a support system for families with school-aged children for the months of June, July, and August, when access to free or reduced-cost school meals is unavailable. This initiative is federally funded and designed to alleviate the nutritional gap experienced by children during the summer break.
- Eligibility Criteria: This program serves Native American and non-native students who meet the eligibility requirements listed under Summer EBT Eligibility.
- Financial Assistance: Qualified families will receive a food package valued at $120 per eligible child for the summer. This financial assistance is aimed at purchasing healthy food options.
- EBT Cards: The benefits are loaded onto EBT cards, functioning similarly to debit cards, making the purchase of groceries seamless at participating stores
- No Impact on Other Assistance: Enrollment in the Summer EBT Program does not affect the eligibility or benefits of other government assistance programs that the family or child might be receiving.
- Confidentiality and Privacy: The program guarantees privacy. Information is solely used for the purpose of the Summer EBT Program.
- Ease of Use: Upon approval, families will receive their Summer EBT cards through mail, along with a list of participating stores and a food card, which serves as a shopping guide for approved food items.
Do you need additional assistance?
Free Summer Meals for children 18 and younger are being offered across the state this summer. Visit Meals4KidsOK.org to find a site near you. If you qualify for Summer EBT you might also qualify for SNAP and WIC. Visit HungerFreeOK.org to learn more!