NEW ORLEANS — A bill was filed Monday that would essentially require the state to enter the summer EBT program. This comes after Governor Jeff Landry announced he's not accepting millions of Federal dollars to fund the program which feeds children when they're out of school.
The summer EBT program helps parents when school is out, families can get $40 a month per eligible child to buy food. Governor Jeff Landry announced the state would not accept the federal dollars to fund it this year, making Louisiana one of more than a dozen states not taking the money.
In a statement last week Governor spokesperson Kate Kelly said in part, "Summer EBT is a pandemic era related program... The pandemic is over. Louisiana already administers robust social safety net programs."
City Councilwoman Helena Moreno said, "I actually don't believe the door is closed on New Orleans being part of the Summer EBT program or the state of Louisiana as a whole."
She went on to say, "At the end of the day this is $71 million worth of benefits for families, poor families within in Louisiana being lost."
House Bill 18 was filed Monday, which forces the state to enter the summer EBT program. The councilwoman said, "It would appropriate the match dollars for the summer EBT program, which is anywhere between three and seven million dollars to get roughly 71 million dollars worth of benefits."
Last week the Governor's office said they'll be offering "meals-to-go."
However, Amanda and Chef Isaac Toups from Toups' Meatery are personally stepping up to meet the needs of children.
Amanda Toups said, "We'll close down 3-5 p.m. when it's normally happy hour inside the restaurant, at that point from 3-5 p.m. we will become a community center, people who are in need they can come through, we will give them all the meals that we can, then we'll go back into dinner service at 5 p.m. ... I will be organizing delivery drivers to bring to people who don't have transport."
They'll also offer ready-to-go meals, so all kids have to do is throw them in the microwave. Toups said she wants to, "Talk to these mums and ask what you actually need, how many meals a week do you think you would need to be supplemented."
With Easter around the corner, the restaurant will also offer Easter dinner boxes.
WWL Louisiana reached out to the Governor's office asking about the House bill, but has yet to hear back.