The Chickasaw Nation will once again partner with area school districts to offer the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children program, an innovative summer foods program designed to provide nutritious foods to children during the summer months.

The Summer EBT for Children program is intended to give low-income families with school-age children easy access to healthy foods during the summer when some children do not have a reliable source, such as a school lunch program.

The program is a joint effort between Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Services and 41 Oklahoma public school districts in Coal, Carter, Garvin, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Johnston and Pontotoc counties.

Families selected to participate will receive a card, similar to a debit card, which they can use in stores to buy healthy food.

This year's benefit will be renewed for families who participated last year, upon completion of a renewal form they will receive by mail.

This summer, an additional 5,000 children will be selected to participate in the program. The consent form for new applicants will be sent home by the school district through back packs and folders during the first two weeks of January.

If a child qualifies for free and reduced meals during the school year, they also qualify to apply for the benefit. To apply, parents must complete the consent forms and return them to the schools as soon as possible.

Through a randomized selection process, 2,500 students will receive food benefits valued at $60 and 2,500 students will receive food benefits valued at $30. Once these names have been selected, no children can be added to the program.

"Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Services is extremely pleased to collaborate with the school districts in expanding the program this year," said Debbie Zachary, tribal nutrition services Summer EBT for Children program manager. "It allows us to provide nutrition security for children by putting healthy foods directly into the home."

The Chickasaw Nation is in the second year of the grant, which is funded by the USDA.  The grant is part of an effort to increase access to nutritious meals and snacks during school gap periods. Improving child nutrition is a focal point of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that recently passed Congress and was signed by President Obama on December 13, 2010.

For more information about Summer EBT for Children program, contact Debbie Zachary at 580-235-6076 or debbie.zachary@chickasaw.net