Families of all city school students will receive a $420 gift card to help cover food costs during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Thursday.
The pre-loaded cards will be distributed as part of the Coronavirus Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer drawn from a federal $3 trillion stimulus package passed last month.
The cards will provide parents with roughly $5.70 for each day kids were eligible to receive a meal after the closure of the city school system on March 16 through the end of the school year next month.
The funds will be available to the families of all city students regardless of income.
The city established roughly 500 meal distribution centers to hand out meals to city families after the system’s closure.
But with set hours and some families unable to use public transport to reach them, the sites did not fill breach entirely.
If enrolled in federal school lunch programs, city parochial and private school families will also be eligible for the benefit.
Backers of the move said the cards will also benefit local markets who will see in uptick in business.
