APS signed us up for an EBT card for school lunch?

[Anonymous]

Today I received an EBT card in the mail from the state. It said it was for free lunch. I'm assuming for my incoming kindergartner, but the card is in my name. We didn't apply for benefits (and wouldn't be eligible). I know our school is school wide free lunch, but I'm totally confused at what this card is for and whether it was sent by mistake.

Any experienced parents have insight? I mean sending everyone EBT certainly takes the stigma out if it, but I have no clue how I'm supposed to use it

[Anonymous]

That is happening in other states too.

[Anonymous]

Update: it's SNAP (food stamps). It's a supplemental program that we are eligible because my kid is going to a school wide eligible program, even though our income is way beyond the limits. This is... unexpected.

[Anonymous]

We have one from last year and money was just added to it again for the spring I think that is related to the Pandemic Benefit. So we are basically getting all the money that they would have spent on our kids breakfast and lunch had they been at school eating. We are using it because the money is there and will just sit there if not used. You can also use the money on food and donate the amount in cashcards that you could ask the school social worker to distribute to families in the school who need it. Our PTA is handling this in our gentrifying school in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have one from last year and money was just added to it again for the spring I think that is related to the Pandemic Benefit. So we are basically getting all the money that they would have spent on our kids breakfast and lunch had they been at school eating. We are using it because the money is there and will just sit there if not used. You can also use the money on food and donate the amount in cashcards that you could ask the school social worker to distribute to families in the school who need it. Our PTA is handling this in our gentrifying school in DC.

This is what you should do.

[Anonymous]

Do like I did with the stimulus check - donate that amount to a food pantry.

[Anonymous]

Use the money and use it to buy supplies and other stuff your child's teacher needs or if they allow snacks, use it to buy the teacher snacks so all kids have snacks.