NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Eligible families in Sequatchie and Bledsoe counties will begin receiving additional food assistance this week through Tennessee’s Summer Nutrition Initiative, a state-funded program designed to help children access nutritious food while school is out for the summer.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services announced that benefits will begin being issued June 12 to qualifying families in 13 Tennessee counties identified as under-served by existing summer meal programs. Sequatchie and Bledsoe counties are among those selected for the initiative.

The program provides a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child. Benefits will be loaded automatically onto existing EBT cards for qualifying households.

To qualify, a child must be between the ages of 5 and 18 and be part of an active SNAP or Families First case. Eligible children must also reside in one of the counties selected for the Summer Nutrition Initiative.

State officials said the program is intended to help bridge the gap during summer months when many children no longer have access to free or reduced-price meals offered through their schools.

According to TDHS, approximately 18,000 children across the state are expected to receive assistance through the initiative.

The 13 counties included in the Summer Nutrition Initiative are Bledsoe, Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Fentress, Hancock, Humphreys, Jackson, Lewis, Marshall, Moore, Sequatchie, and Smith.

Families who qualify do not need to apply separately. Benefits will be issued automatically through existing EBT accounts beginning June 12.

The Summer Nutrition Initiative is separate from Tennessee’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals to children at participating locations throughout the summer. State officials encourage families to take advantage of both programs when available.