South Dakota is one of the eleven states too stubborn or stupid to sign up for expanded summer food assistance from Uncle Sam. Bread for the World and and a whole bunch of partner-orgs are urging our next Governor, whoever he may be, to recognize the value of feeding kids year-round:
A broad coalition of South Dakota organizations sent a letter to Governor Rhoden and to gubernatorial candidate Dan Ahlers urging a commitment to participate in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT, or SUN Bucks) program beginning in summer 2027.
The letter, signed by more than 30 organizations representing health care, nutrition, education, child welfare, anti-hunger, faith, and community interests, highlights the ongoing challenge many South Dakota families face when school is out and children lose access to free or reduced-price school meals.
“Child hunger is bad for children, for education, health, and the state’s future. Summer EBT is one thing we can do about it,” says Cathy Brechtelsbauer, coordinator for Bread for the World -South Dakota.
The coalition’s letter notes that Summer EBT provides a $120 summer grocery benefit for each eligible school-age child. The program improves nutrition and strengthens statewide efforts to reduce child food insecurity. It brings federal resources into local communities, generating economic activity for grocery stores and food retailers across the state.
Most states participate in Summer EBT, including all of South Dakota’s border states. Eric Savaiano of Nebraska Appleseed reports, “For the past three summers, Summer EBT has helped thousands of Nebraska kids get the food they need while school meals aren’t being served over the summer break. Feeding kids should be every state’s priority, and Summer EBT makes that easy.”
“This is common sense legislation. Children deserve to be fed, regardless of where they live or whether school is in session,” says Susan Carr, Executive Director of NASW-South Dakota. “South Dakota does not have to reinvent the wheel. We can learn from the success of our neighbors and make sure South Dakota children have access to the food they need to grow, learn, and thrive.”
The letter requests that gubernatorial candidates publicly indicate their intent to opt South Dakota into the Summer EBT program beginning in summer 2027.
Organizations signing the letter emphasized that ensuring children have reliable access to nutritious food is fundamental to supporting healthy development, educational success, and overall well-being. Signatories include Aurora County Food Pantry, Bread Break, Bread for the World South Dakota Chapter, Child Nutrition Services at Sioux Falls School District, Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas, Dakota Rural Action, Midwest Street Medicine, National Association of Social Work- South Dakota, Presentation Sisters Justice Commission, South Dakota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Yankton Contact Center, and numerous other community organizations across the state [link added; Bread for the World, press release, 2026.10.08].
Bread for the World links to this 2024 fact sheet from the Food Research and Action Center, which notes that in summer 2025, Summer EBT could have sent South Dakota $6.84 million, which would have fed around 57,000 kids and would have generated $10.3 million to $12.3 million in economic impact from all that additional grocery-buying.