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NYC parents can still get $120 in summer food aid for their kids
By
Karen Yi
Published Aug 2, 2026
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By
Karen Yi
Published Aug 2, 2026
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New York City parents still have time to enroll their school-age kids for $120 in summer food benefits.
The federally funded program known as summer EBT gives low-income families money to spend on food and groceries while schools are closed and not offering free meals. Summer can be particularly challenging for families who can’t afford to put food on the table while juggling childcare and rising food costs, according to emergency food advocates.
“We always refer to summer as the hungriest time of year,” said Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York, an anti-hunger organization.
No Kid Hungry released a survey earlier this year that found three-quarters of New York families have to choose between paying for groceries or covering household expenses.
“ We had caregivers tell us that they skip meals or have a much smaller portion to make sure their children are eating. We had caregivers tell us they hide food because they want to make sure there's food at the end of the month for their children,” Sabella said.
Families who are already enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Medicaid are automatically eligible for summer EBT and the money will be loaded onto their EBT cards. Families who earn below certain income levels can apply for the program until Sept. 8.
Summer EBT benefits expire 122 days after the money is loaded onto the EBT cards so food advocates say parents should make sure to use the money before it expires. Across the state about 2 million children are eligible for summer EBT and state officials estimate they’ll issue $240 million in benefits.
Sabella said this summer is particularly challenging because of new federal work requirements for SNAP benefits that require adults to prove they are working, volunteering or in school to receive their benefits for more than three months. So far, more than 22,000 New Yorkers have lost their SNAP benefits.
Families in New York City can also visit a summer meal program run by NYC’s Department of Education. Schools, parks, pools and libraries offer free breakfast and lunch to all children under 18. No application or identification is required.
“While the sites may change throughout the summer, they can do this seven days a week,” Sabella said.
Families can find a list of locations here. Summer meals run through Sept. 4.
Tagged
economy
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new york city
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Karen Yi
Karen Yi covers homelessness and poverty. She joined the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom in 2020. Before that, Karen covered Newark for the Star-Ledger and spent almost a decade working for newspapers in New Jersey and Florida. She grew up in Miami and has a dog named Cashew. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-589-1460.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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