When I was growing up, I loved summer break. I looked forward to spending time with my friends, going to the pool and playing board games on our screened-in porch. But for many children here in LA County, and even more so for their parents, summer is anything but carefree. As the school doors close, so do the vital sources of nutrition that so many children rely on during the academic year—school meals. This summer will be particularly challenging because food assistance programs are changing, resulting in fewer dollars to feed hungry kids.

In the summer of 2020, the Pandemic EBT was created to help feed children who rely on in-school meals over the summer. In the summer of 2022, families with children eligible for the program received up to $391 in benefits for the 3-month period kids weren’t in school. This summer, those benefits have been cut to $120 for the 3 months–that’s a 69% decrease. 

This hit to the household budget comes on the heels of a major cut to the CalFresh food assistance program in April, and food prices are still soaring compared to last year. 

Many, like Maria Velasco, are now left wondering: how will I feed my grandchildren? How will I feed myself and still pay rent? Maria is a grandmother of four, working part-time to help make ends meet. She visits the food pantry at Foothill Unity Center in Monrovia, one of the Food Bank’s more than 600 trusted partner agencies. At a recent distribution, she shared,

“I am here to pick up food because this helps to alleviate the crisis we’re going through. The benefits we get aren’t enough. I have four grandchildren, ages 10, 12, 14 and 15. Rent is ridiculous… the bills, gas, electricity, food, it’s too much. Everything is expensive at the store. It’s not just eggs but lettuce, lentils and beans. It’s been very drastic for those of us with lower incomes. The food we get here is a huge help. I want to thank you with all my heart for everything you do for us. You save a lot of people from going hungry, from going a whole day without eating anything. It’s not just me. There are thousands like me that need this help. Thank you for being so generous with us.”