Summer Nutrition Initiative

The initiative is intended to provide additional summer nutrition benefits where they are needed most. The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) administers the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) with partners who provide free meals to children across the state, however some counties have little to no SFSP meal sites available. The TN Summer Nutrition Initiative supports families in identified counties with limited access to SFSP.

Tennessee has other programs that meet nutrition needs:

• The Summer Food Service Program provides children with meals when school is out. Children who are age 18 and younger may receive free meals and snacks through SFSP. Meals and snacks are also available to persons with disabilities over age 18, who participate in school programs for people who have a mental or physical disability. No application is required to receive meals at most meal sites, however some summer camps may offer SFSP meals on a case-by-case basis to families who share income information. To find a SFSP meal site near you, click here. To learn more, visit: https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/humanservices/children/dhs-nutrition-programs/learn-about-the-summer-food-service-program.html.

• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers food assistance based on income and other resource guidelines. Details about the SNAP application process can be found on the program’s Applying for Services page.
• The Tennessee Department of Education, a key partner with the Tennessee Department of Human Services, also administers the Seamless Summer Feeding Option program that allows School Food Authorities (SFAs) to provide free meals to qualified low-income areas during traditional summer vacation or with state agency approval on balanced calendar breaks greater than ten days.  For more information on this program, please visit: https://www.tn.gov/education/districts/snp-resources/snp-programs.html.

Children aged 5-18 as of May 1, 2025 in families that actively received SNAP and/or Families First benefits as of May 31, 2025 and that reside in the identified 15 counties will automatically receive the TN Summer Nutrition Initiative benefit on their existing EBT cards.

No, there is not an application process to receive the TN Summer Nutrition Initiative benefit. Children who qualify will automatically receive the benefit.

Benefits will be automatically given to eligible households beginning June 13, 2025.

Appeals for Tennessee Summer Nutrition Initiative benefits will only be accepted from people who allege to have met the eligibility requirements below, but did not receive benefits:

• Households with an open and active SNAP and/or Families First case as of May 31, 2025, that are designated as residing in one of the eligible counties; and
• Households with at least one child age 5-18, as of May 1, 2025, included in the open and active SNAP and/or Families First case.

If your household meets these requirements, and you did not receive benefits, an appeal can be submitted by clicking here.  Appeal requests must be filed thirty (30) days after the date of issuance.

Each eligible child will receive a one-time benefit of $120.00.

Benefits will be deposited on existing EBT cards of eligible households beginning June 13, 2025.

Benefits are intended for food for children in the household, and the card can be used anywhere EBT cards are traditionally accepted.