GRPS food program adds Kentwood schools

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Grand Rapids Public Schools announced Thursday it is expanding its Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Food Program to include Kentwood Public Schools.

The pilot program started in 2011 and has been growing ever since.

The program, which provides families with additional food benefits in June, July and August, received a grant to expand the program in 2013. The grant came from the US Department of Agriculture.

The program was created to provide low-income families with additional help in obtaining nutritious foods for their children in the summer months, when they are not in school, to reduce summer hunger and improve food security, according to a news release.

Kids can receive $30 or $60 worth of healthy foods each month.

This summer, 3,000 Grand Rapids kids and 3,000 Kentwood kids will be chosen for the program from a random lottery. A letter will be sent in May to notify newly selected families.

Only healthy foods can be credited to the EBT card.

Children who received EBT cards last year will continue to receive the same services.

Additional grants from the USDA will expand the program in other Michigan school districts, including Bay-Arenac Intermediate School District, Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District, Midland County Education Service Agency, Detroit Public Schools, and Tuscola Intermediate School District. Michigan and Texas were the only two states chosen by the USDA to test the WIC modeled program. Three other states are testing new food stamp and bridge card systems for the USDA.