NEW ORLEANS — There may be help on the way for hungry children this summer in New Orleans and across Louisiana.
According to the latest statistics one in five children in the state don’t have enough nutritious food to eat.
“If kids are hungry they can’t learn,” said Rep. Amee Adatto Freeman, D-New Orleans. If kids are hungry they can’t grow. If kids are hungry they can’t be successful adults.
Freemen is working with other members of the New Orleans delegation to resurrect a summer food program.
Gov. Jeff Landry rejected federal funding for the program two months ago.
Last year, the summer EBT initiative provided up to $120 of groceries from June through August for nearly 600,000 students in Louisiana.
“We are well aware that our constituents actually support bringing that money here,” Freeman said.
The legislature would come up with $3.5 million to draw down a $71 million federal match for the program.
City Council President Helena Moreno asked the state to reconsider the program.
“Legislators heard from their constituents about how important this program really is, and they don’t want to leave kids living in poverty,” Moreno said.
Moreno says if it’s too late to get the program up and running this summer, the city council would put up city dollars to help feed hungry kids.
“This would be a significant appropriation of roughly a million dollars going to Second Harvest Food Bank so they could boost feeding sites across the city.”
Second Harvest CEO Natalie Jayroe already had plans to double summer feeding. She is excited to work with the city council on a Plan B if necessary.
“We would try to mirror that program and get cards into the hands, cards for retail grocery stores, gift cards for families to do this.
Rep. Freeman says if federal funds are not available this summer, she will work to make sure the summer EBT program is in the state budget for next year.
Speaking at the Public Affairs Research Council annual conference, Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie said he thought getting the federal money was a good investment for Louisiana.
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