Policy & Practice | Summer 2025

From the “Summer Nutrition in Practice: What Worked, What Needs Work, and Building for the Future” plenary session. From left to right: Cherise Billington, Emily Fulgham-Clay, Marlena Hanson, and Zahava “Zee” Zaidoff.

know administrators are taking this feedback into account as they refine their own approaches. As we look ahead, the feedback from families, community partners, and agencies remains crucial to the pro gram’s success, and the more we can openly discuss both the challenges and successes, the more effective Summer EBT will become. The voices of parents who partici pated in the plenary panel represent millions of families across the country who rely on support programs like Summer EBT. Their stories and insights are a reminder of the impor tance of centering the experiences of the people who use these programs. As we continue to develop and refine Summer EBT, we have a unique opportunity to build a program that works better for families—one that is designed around their needs and shaped by their feedback. We are deeply grateful to those parents who took the time to share their experiences. Their contributions have provided invaluable perspectives as we work to improve the program. Similarly, we are thankful for the Summer EBT agency staff, whose dedi cation and innovation helped make the first year of implementation a success. Together, these efforts have laid a solid foundation for a program that can make a lasting, positive impact on families and children across the nation, ensuring that we are better positioned to meet their needs in the years to come.

let me go hunt down the Pillsbury [rolls] for my 10-year-old,” said Emily Fulgham-Clay, an educator, parent consultant, and mom of three. She stressed that the food allowance provided her child a spark of joy in a stressful period, “…the type of joy that lets people thrive." For many families, being able to say yes to small requests, like a favorite snack, offers a mean ingful way to show love and provide a sense of normalcy. And when they expressed their appreciation for the program, some were moved to tears. “For me, it was a choice between putting more food on the table or paying the electric bill,” said Cherise Billington, a food insecurity advocate and single mother of three teenagers. “Because of Summer EBT, I was able to do both.” Her words moved the room, ending in a standing ovation from 500 attendees—a powerful recognition of the panelists’ courage and the vital role families play in the program’s success. Watching these panelists give so much of themselves—vulnerably and courageously—for a greater cause was everything. It was a reminder that our work is about more than just policy or logistics. It’s about real people with real stories and the chance to make their voices heard in a way that can

administration. It requires listening to the people who use it. Parents and caregivers are the true experts when it comes to understanding the program’s impact, which is why their voices at the Summit were so important. At the Summit, families shared their personal experiences and gave us invaluable insights into what it’s like to navigate the Summer EBT program from start to finish. They told us what worked well, what was confusing or frustrating, and where improvements were needed. Their feedback was absolutely essential for understanding how the program can better serve families in the future. Often, program decisions are made without directly involving the people they aim to help. But we know that to truly meet the needs of families, Summer EBT must be a program built with them, not just for them. This kind of feedback is critical for refining customer service and ensuring that the program is as accessible as possible for all families, especially those in harder to-reach communities. Sharing What We’ve Learned Ultimately, hearing directly from families is essential to making Summer EBT as effective and responsive as it can be. Panelists highlighted real chal lenges, including juggling multiple cards, delays in receiving benefits, and uncertainty about whether an applica tion was required. These takeaways provided valuable insights, and we

drive lasting change. Why Customer Feedback Matters

If there’s one lesson we’ve taken to heart, it’s that the success of Summer EBT depends on more than efficient

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