School meals will continue this summer for El Paso kids who rely on those
EL PASO, Texas -- School districts in the El Paso area have been ramping up their nutrition service departments since the Covid-19 pandemic to make sure their students don't go hungry.
As they continue curb side food distributions this summer, federal funding for families who rely on free or reduced school meals is now available in Texas as well, weeks after it was approved by Congress.
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas Education Agency. It's a one-time benefit of $285 and works the same way Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits do.
Children ages 5 to 18 who received SNAP benefits in March and children who are certified free or reduced meals at school meals during the 2019-2020 school year are eligible.
“If the family has the Lone Star card, it will be automatically downloaded on that card." said Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. "If you're not on the card but your child (receives) free or reduced lunch, you’ll have to fill out an application."
The application officially opened the first week of June. School districts across Texas, including El Paso, have been sending parents who qualify a link to the application.
Commissioner Miller told ABC-7 if families filled out an application, they can expect to see the funding in the mail within a week.
Click here to apply for P-EBT.
Below are summer meal schedules for school district across El Paso:
El Paso Independent School District -- Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through July 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 40 different sites. For updates, click here.
Socorro Independent School District - Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. through June 25 at the following locations:
- Cactus Trails Elementary
- Helen Ball Elementary
- Horizon Heights Elementary
- Hueco Elementary
- Lujan-Chavez Elementary
- Mission Ridge Elementary
- O’Shea Keleher Elementary
- Purple Heart Elementary
- Robert R. Rojas Elementary
- Bill Sybert School
- Jane A. Hambric School
- John Drugan School
- Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle
- Montwood Middle
- SPC. Rafael Hernando III Middle
- Pebble Hills High School
- Desert Wind School - Monday and Thursday only from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Ysleta Independent School District - June 8 through June 25, Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the following locations:
- Hacienda Heights Elementary
- REL Washington Elementary
- Desertaire Elementary
- Constance Hulbert Elementary
- Bel Air Middle
- Del Valle Middle
- Eastwood Middle
- Del Valle High School
- Eastwood High School
- Hanks High School
- Parkland High School
- Riverside High School
- Ysleta High School
Canutillo Independent School District - Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m through June 30 at the following locations:
- Canutillo High School
- Canutillo Elementary
- Deanna Davenport Elementary
Clint Independent School District - Monday through Thursday, breakfast from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. through June 27. at the following locations:
- Clint High School
- Horizon High School
- Mountain View High School
- William D. Surratt Elementary School
- Frank Macias Elementary
- Montana Vista Elementary
- Clint Early College Academy
San Elizario Independent School District - Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. through June 30 at Garcia-Enriquez Middle School. Click here for updates.
Fabens Independent School District - Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Tornillo Independent School District - Meals will be dropped off at bus sites which can be found by clicking here.
