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Second Harvest says they're doubling summer meal program to help families

Gov. Landry announced the state won't participate in the Summer EBT Program. Now that it's gone, a local food bank is stepping up to fill the need.

NEW ORLEANS — A few months ago, Governor Jeff Landry announced the state would no longer participate in the Summer EBT Program. This program helped thousands of families keep food on the table while kids were out of school. Now that it's gone, a local food bank is stepping up to fill the need.

Earlier this year, Governor Jeff Landry announced he would not accept federal dollars to fund the summer EBT program, meaning it won't be offered this year. The program offers families $40 a month for food per eligible child, but now that it's gone, Natalie Jayroe with Second Harvest Food Bank says they're going to step up, she said, "We're going to double the size of our summer feeding program."

Jayroe went on to say, "We're going to be reaching more than 80 different locations, over 11 or 12 different parishes here in Southeast Louisiana, and hopefully reaching more than 5000 children."

RELATED: Summer EBT program expected to end in 2024

Congressman Troy Carter and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres toured the food bank Tuesday. 

The congressman says children should not go hungry. "Sometimes the only nutritional meal they'll get is at school," he said.

He went on to say, "Children should not be subject to any politics."

Deputy Secretary Torres says they're trying to ensure the program comes back next year. He says, "We're continuing to provide both regular school feeding sites and then a waiver from the congregate feeding sites so they can get food more easily."

Jayroe says while Second Harvest is doubling their meals, there'll be many other kids still in need. "In these 23  parishes, there are 117,000 children who are food insecure; 5000, while it's more than we've ever done, it's not nearly enough," she said.

RELATED: What bills to watch as the 2024 legislative session begins

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