***For Immediate Release***
Monday, February 12
Contact: Sierra Salgado Pirigyi
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Office: (402) 438-8853 ext 116
sierrasp@neappleseed.org
RELEASE: Nebraska Opts Into Summer EBT Program
This ensures 150,000 kids can access healthy meals this summer
LINCOLN, NE – On February 12, 2024, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Nebraska DHHS CEO Steve Corsi, and Dr. Brian Maher, commissioner for the Nebraska Department of Education, held a joint press conference announcing an initiative aimed at strengthening Nebraska’s summer food service program scheduled to launch in Summer 2024, which includes opting into the Summer EBT program.
Eric Savaiano, Program Manager for Food and Nutrition Access at Nebraska Appleseed, issued the following statement in response:
“We are beyond thrilled to hear that Nebraska will be participating in the Summer EBT program this summer and the summers to come. This will ensure that 150,000 kids will have the ability to access meals over the summer months and bring in $18 million to our state in economic benefits.
This would not be possible without the tremendous amount of outreach and pressure the public put on our elected officials to do the right thing. We would especially like to thank Senator Jen Day and Senator Ray Aguilar for their leadership on this issue and keeping the conversation going in the Legislature. We’d also like to thank Governor Jim Pillen for listening to our communities and Nebraska’s kids and we look forward to working with DHHS and NDE to implement this program over the next few months.”
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