Shared with me by Ann-Marie Aymer from Summit Public Library. Ann-Marie received this from Jemmell'z Washington-Rock, the Program Manager from the NJ Office of the Food Security Advocate. Ann-Marie sent it out via NJYAC but I don’t think it came through so I’m sharing it again.

To reach Jemmell’z directly, you can email her at ...@ag.nj.gov" style="color: #2199e8; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Jemm...@ag.nj.gov

~ Sharon

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Summer EBT in New Jersey is here and more than 500,000 children across the state will be eligible<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.njspotlightnews.org/2024/03/500000-nj-children-eligible-for-the-summer-ebt-program/__;!!Fi0azknUKwhC4uI2!kmgccKDCjGvyABBIMrSQYmjvawpmFGQ7xb3Cts6GKn5PIH4LTchKSgMHlFG3bfU2YlHOpygTjS9AcykAmVBrMVNW7poejmkNiu6Re62E8TVsEQ$> to receive Summer EBT benefits. I’m reaching out to librarians in the state to thank you for your partnership in helping to spread the word and overall, in improving community health and wellbeing for everyone. I’m also writing you because our office has heard from trusted community-based organizations that there is some confusion about whether families can still contact their child’s school to determine their eligibility to participate in Summer EBT.

Please let your colleagues, community partners and the families and neighbors you serve know that it is not too late. Parents and guardians still can, and should, contact their child’s school to complete or update their school meal application. There are many paths to eligibility – the first place to start is for families to make sure they have a current school meal application on file at their school. School meal applications are safe, and the information families share is secure. Here are some more fast facts about Summer EBT in New Jersey:

  *   Participating in Summer EBT does not affect a family’s immigration status.

  *   Families do not have to choose between participating in Summer EBT or visiting summer meals feeding sites in the community.

  *   Summer EBT provides up to $120 in nutritional benefits to each eligible child. Although summer is in full swing, families who are eligible will still receive the full $120.

  *   The State of New Jersey will provide the full $120 in nutritional benefits up front. There is no waiting for benefits to be added to the card each month throughout the summer.

Libraries’ summertime and year-round programming and services build community while also connecting individuals and families to information and resources. To help your team continue to spread the word about Summer EBT, Hunger Free NJ has expanded its toolkit<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/hungerfreenj.org/summer-ebt-2024/__;!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!NQe3cbjf6P-LpJ70ESVZZyJ_f-zI0PvIM5MQac0JRa_51X6fXPc1gL34jr-4ib2JQSryJFJZrT1IuOPO9mdXoOEABUVB$> with social media posts, Frequently Asked Questions and more in additional languages.

Some ways to use the toolkit include:

  *   sending emails and newsletter blurbs to your network

  *   sharing social media posts and graphics about Summer EBT on Facebook, Instagram and through local community apps such as WhatsApp groups, Band, Group.Me and others

  *   placing graphics on your website

  *   printing flyers for distribution and print posters to display at events.

To forward the Summer EBT Toolkit to your community partners, click here<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/hungerfreenj.org/summer-ebt-2024/__;!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!NQe3cbjf6P-LpJ70ESVZZyJ_f-zI0PvIM5MQac0JRa_51X6fXPc1gL34jr-4ib2JQSryJFJZrT1IuOPO9mdXoOEABUVB$>.

Implementing Summer EBT and educating communities about it, is a multi-agency and cross-sector collaborative effort, so you might have already received the toolkit from another partner. We appreciate anything you can do.

Warm regards,

Jemmell’z

Jemmell’z Washington-Rock

Program Manager

 NJ Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA)

200 Riverview Plaza, 3rd Floor | Trenton, NJ 08611 Work cell: (609) 940-1830

https://www.nj.gov/foodsecurity/

 

Summer’s here—and Summer EBT will help families get ready for it. New Jersey will send a Summer EBT card to eligible children's homes to purchase $120 worth of healthier food at participating retailers when school’s out. Visit the state’s website for more information here: https://www.nj.gov/summerebt/