GLASTONBURY, Conn. — Thousands of Connecticut families were expecting a payment to roll in this week through the Summer EBT program to help with food bills, but now that payment is more than a month away.
The Summer EBT program is new this year, with the goal of helping families with grocery bills when kids are out of school.
The Department of Social Services posted on Facebook this week saying there was an unexpected delay. The funds were originally going to be sent out on June 23, but the state is now saying the money will be released sometime in early August.
It’s still unclear why the program is being delayed.
In the meantime, families who were planning for that money are left disappointed and frustrated over the miscommunication in timing.
Luckily, there are other programs across the state that are working to help families.
The Community Renewal Team or CRT is providing summer meals to students. More than 35,000 meals are set to be served in areas around Hartford—including Windsor Locks, Glastonbury and Enfield.
"We’ve been doing this for a number of years, kids 18 and under can come and get a free meal," said Jacob Carpenter, a social worker in Glastonbury.
Workers said the need is increasing in Glastonbury for these meal service programs.
"This year especially we have seen more families come to our site with multiple children for breakfast and lunch. We have returning families every year as well so it’s definitely a resource that’s needed in our community and is widely used," said Brianna Johnson, a social worker in Glastonbury.
The CRT meal program will run until about mid-August. At the Glastonbury Housing Authority, breakfast will run from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. every weekday and lunch is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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