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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Cross-posted. Please excuse duplication.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Ohio Association of Foodbanks and partner organizations have been publicizing Ohio’s
<a href="https://ohiosummerebt.org/">Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (SEBT) / SUN Bucks program</a>, which helps families purchase food for their school-age children during the summer months.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The newest resource is an <b><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1apd9WZI2Axf-lkXoKtoqtQjNzlNXFQ_7?usp=drive_link">SEBT expiration toolkit</a>
</b>to spread the word about the upcoming expiration of SEBT benefits. The toolkit is a Google folder containing printable flyers and graphics in English and Spanish, and a set of sample social media messages in both languages.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most SEBT benefits expire by November 1, or 4 months after benefit allocation. Initial data indicated 60% of benefits distributed had already been spent by July 4. Please help ensure that eligible families are utilizing their benefits before
they expire. SEBT expiration toolkit materials also encourage families to keep their SEBT card, which can be used again in 2026 if the family remains eligible.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Food insecurity occurs when a household cannot consistently access enough food due to a lack of money and other essential resources. According to the Map the Meal Gap Study 2025,
<a href="https://map.feedingamerica.org/district/2023/child/ohio">statewide, the child food insecurity rate is 20.1%</a>, which means that one of every 5 children ages 0-18 in Ohio is food insecure.
<a href="https://map.feedingamerica.org/">Use the Mind the Meal Gap map</a> to look up your county’s food insecurity statistics and learn more about food insecurity.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information on food insecurity and how libraries can help, see the
<a href="https://library.ohio.gov/libraries/library-programs-and-development/summer-food-service">
SUN Meals page on the State Library website</a>, the CSLP’s <a href="https://www.cslpreads.org/libraries-and-summer-food/">
Libraries and Summer Food guide</a>, and the No Kid Hungry <a href="https://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/programs/summer-and-afterschool-meals-libraries">
Summer and Afterschool Meals in Libraries</a> toolkit.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<br>
Janet<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="248" height="74" style="width:2.5833in;height:.775in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01DBD09F.7A6E7B80" alt="A picture containing text
Description automatically generated"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Janet Ingraham Dwyer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Youth Services Library Consultant<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Library Programs & Development</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">State Library of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">274 E. 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Columbus, OH 43201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">614.644.6910<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:jdwyer@library.ohio.gov"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">jdwyer@library.ohio.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">library.ohio.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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