Quick look: A Fullerton Joint Union High School District administrator has been selected as one of 10 members of No Kid Hungry’s inaugural Summer EBT Champion Network, helping raise awareness about the federal Summer EBT program for families.
A Fullerton Joint Union High School District administrator has been selected as one of 10 members of No Kid Hungry’s inaugural Summer EBT Champion Network, joining school and district leaders from across the country working to raise awareness about the federal nutrition program.
Edgar Manalo, the district’s business services director, is the only representative from Orange County in the national network, which spans eight states and helps schools connect families with Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks. The program provides $120 in grocery benefits to eligible children during the summer months when school is out and school meals are unavailable.
According to No Kid Hungry, campuses are among the most trusted sources of information for families seeking details about Summer EBT, making school and district leaders critical partners in helping families understand and access the benefit.
Supporting families beyond the school year
In his profile for No Kid Hungry, Manalo said Summer EBT helps ensure students continue to have access to nutritious food beyond the school year and emphasized the importance of helping both families and school staff understand how the program works.
At the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Manalo oversees procurement, contracts, warehouse operations and food services. He also leads outreach efforts through the district’s “More than a Meal” campaign, which connects families with year-round resources such as Summer EBT, free meals, CalKIDS and utility assistance.
“Congratulations to Edgar, a true school nutrition champion who understands the connection between school meals and learning,” said Dareen Khatib, senior administrator of Health, Safety and Prevention for the Orange County Department of Education’s Educational Services Division. “He consistently cultivates partnerships and links families to resources like SUN Bucks, which bridge the nutrition gap many children experience during the summer months when they lose access to the reliability of their daily school meals.”
No Kid Hungry launched the Summer EBT Champion Network earlier this year to elevate the voices of school and district leaders who are helping families learn about the program and encouraging schools to share information with their communities. The champions represent a range of education roles and will promote Summer EBT through conferences, newsletters, outreach efforts and other communications.
More information about Summer EBT and No Kid Hungry’s Summer EBT Champion Network is available on the organization’s website.