It will be loaded with money to help with food insecurity caused by the pandemic.
As personal learning resumes for more CPS students, things are still far from normal for many of their families.
“There are a lot of families struggling now, and kids don’t have access to school meals, unfortunately, there are a lot of hungry kids,” said Claudia Rodriguez, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Senior Manager of Public Benefits Outreach.
The state of Illinois has received federal money to provide more relief to several children – 1 million children.
Students will receive funding through their school districts.
Children who qualify for free meals qualify for the electronic transfer of pandemic benefits, or P-EBT, so that students in any school in the state can qualify.
In some cases, the entire district qualifies, so in more than 200 school districts all students qualify for P-EBT.
All Chicago public school students are eligible for P-EBT, according to officials, so all students will receive $ 450 for the period when distance learning schools fall. The money will be charged to a reusable card.
“They can take this card and buy food at retail and grocery stores across the state, so please don’t throw away these cards,” said Grace Hou, secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services.
State officials urge families to make sure their child’s school has the most current address and to follow the white envelope in the card mail.
“If they came to school before a pandemic, waiting for or needing breakfast and lunch when it disappeared, there was a significant increase in the need to replace those meals,” Hou said.
“We are thinking of hungry adults who may be homeless or under employees, but there are a lot of families with children who are struggling,” Rodriguez said.
The cards will start coming out next week.
Qualified students who have been away this year will be entitled to more funds that would be automatically charged to their cards.
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