The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the Texas free meals for children program through the end of the year or until funding runs out. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service will extend the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option.

“As our nation reopens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA has provided an unprecedented amount of flexibilities to help schools feed kids through the school meal programs, and today, we are also extending summer meal program flexibilities for as long as we can, legally and financially,” Perdue said.

The Washington Post via Getty Im
The Washington Post via Getty Im
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The USDA extension was announced just as Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas will be extending the Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through September.

“Texas will continue to ensure access to nutritious meals as we mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Abbott. “This emergency SNAP extension will help Texans provide healthy food for their families.”

The Governor said that over 972,000 Texas SNAP households will receive the additional amount on their Lone Star Card by Sept. 15.

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