It will be loaded with money to help with food insecurity caused by the pandemic.
With face-to-face learning resuming for more CPS students, it is far from normal for many of their families.
“There are many families currently struggling with children who do not have access to school meals. Unfortunately, there are many children who are starving,” said Claudia Rodriguez, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Senior Manager of Public Benefits Outreach.
The state of Illinois received federal funding to help more children – 1 million children.
Students receive the money through their school district.
Children who qualify for free meals are eligible for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, or P-EBT, so students can qualify at any school across the state.
In some cases, the entire district is eligible, so in more than 200 school districts, all students are eligible for P-EBT.
According to officials, all Chicago Public Schools students are eligible for P-EBT, and so all students will receive $ 450 for the time that schools were remote learning in the fall. The money is loaded onto a reusable card.
“They can take this card and they can buy food at stores and grocery stores across the state, so please don’t throw those cards away,” said Grace Hou, Illinois Dept. of Human Services, Secretary
State officials urge families to make sure their child’s school has the most current address and to look for the white envelope in the mail with the card.
“If they came to school before the pandemic and expected or needed breakfast and lunch when it went away, there was a significant increase in the need to replace those meals,” Hou said.
“We’re thinking of hungry adults who may be homeless or underemployed, but there are many families with children who are struggling,” said Rodriguez.
The cards go out next week.
Qualified students who have been remote this year are entitled to more money automatically loaded onto their cards.
Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All rights reserved.