Dear John,

Adjusting to the realities of the coronavirus has presented unprecedented obstacles for all of Oregon’s communities. And for many families, this pandemic has exacerbated existing barriers and challenges, including hunger and a lack of access to nutritional foods.

In the richest country in the world, no one -- regardless of the color of their skin, the zip code where they live, or what industry they work in -- should be going to bed hungry. Yet long before this public health emergency made things even worse, over half a million Oregonians were already struggling with food insecurity. Heartbreakingly, nearly 200,000 of those Oregonians are children. Now, with many families struggling with lost jobs and income, those numbers are only increasing.

I want to make sure all Oregonians have the information and tools they need to access programs that can help alleviate hunger, especially for our children. So today, I’m writing to you to let you know that if your children qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school, you are eligible for newly available Pandemic School Meal Replacement benefits (Pandemic EBT) to help you replace the meals they would have received if schools were open.

Households that already receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will have these new Pandemic EBT benefits for March, April and May automatically deposited to their existing SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) accounts in late May. Students who get free or reduced-price meals but do not receive SNAP benefits will automatically receive an Oregon Trail Card in the mail. 

If you have experienced significant income loss and may have become eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals, you can apply for Pandemic EBT any time before June 30, using this link or by contacting your local school. 

This is an important change that will help families across Oregon keep their kids fed and healthy during this pandemic -- but we have more work to do to fight food insecurity, particularly as our communities face mounting economic consequences of this public health emergency. 

That’s why I’ve joined my colleagues in pushing the USDA, which oversees the SNAP program, to ensure that recipients can receive food delivery and curbside pickup to help limit their potential exposure to the virus. I also led an effort to urge Amazon and Walmart to waive delivery fees and minimum order requirements for SNAP recipients. In response, for consumers in states where SNAP can be applied to online orders, Walmart has delayed implementing a $30 minimum order requirement for the duration of the pandemic, and Amazon Fresh will allow SNAP recipients to shop online using their benefits. And as Congress considers the next coronavirus relief package, I’m fighting to make sure it includes provisions that will strengthen and increase SNAP benefits.

These times are trying, frightening, and unprecedented, and the only way we are going to make it to the other side is by working together to support each other. As Oregon’s representative in the U.S. Senate, please know that I’m committed to doing everything I can to stand up for our most vulnerable families and fight for every resource available to take on food insecurity.

All my best,
Jeff