South Carolina declines federal summer EBT program aimed at aiding low-income families

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — South Carolina has turned down a new federal EBT program that would provide additional help to low-income families while school is out of session.

Some lawmakers pushed to include it in the recently House-approved state budget. While they were unsuccessful, there's still the possibility of the State Senate adding it before the budget reaches the governor’s desk.

“Where we spend our money, tells us where our priorities are. If we're unwilling to feed needy and hungry children during the summer, then what does that say about us?” Rep. Marvin Pendarvis said.

At least 36 states have opted in for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new 2024 Summer EBT program. It would provide lower-income families with $40 per eligible student each month to buy groceries.

But South Carolina isn’t one of those states.

“I don't think people realize that sometimes school is where kids get their food. They don't eat very well during the summer months, and so this program would just help bolster that,” said Joy Brown, a parent in the Charleston County School District (CCSD).

“It's disappointing to not see it accepted.”

Charleston County students can still receive free breakfast and lunch during the summer months through the district’s Seamless Summer Feeding Program. Still, some lawmakers argued on the Statehouse floor that spending $3 million to provide this extra assistance would've been money well spent. 

“Many of the students I represent in North Charleston live in food deserts. And so, they don't have reasonable access to grocery stores and nutritional products, and so not only are you compounding the issue when you're talking about not feeding them, but these are kids that already lack options anyway,” Rep. Pendarvis said.

Despite the program not making it into the state’s budget, Rep. Pendarvis said he’s still optimistic after receiving bipartisan support in the House.

He is still encouraging Governor Henry McMaster to make the late choice to opt in for this year or at least revisit it for next summer.

“You talk about core functions of government; this is a core function of government,” the Lowcountry representative said. “Making sure that we're feeding children during the summer, making sure that we're standing up for those who don't have a voice.”

Berkeley County schools offer the same free summer meals program as CCSD. Dorchester School District Two is still working to get state approval for its program, but district leaders hope to have a similar offer.

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