Trinidad district alerts families to $120 summer EBT food benefit

Some Las Animas County families can receive a one-time $120 Summer EBT benefit automatically, while others will need to apply. Children attending a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program may be enrolled without an application if they are approved for free or reduced-price meals, receive SNAP, Colorado Works, FDPIR or Medicaid and meet school-meal income rules, or are in foster care, experiencing homelessness or migrant status. Families that are not automatically enrolled can apply if they attend an NSLP school and their household income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. Parents who are not sure where they stand should check the state’s enrollment tool now and make sure school records, address and income information are current, especially if they still need food help before summer break turns into a longer stretch without school meals.

Trinidad School District #1 posted its Summer EBT notice on May 14, describing it as important information for local families. The message was brief, but the timing was clear: the district wanted parents in Trinidad and across Las Animas County to know there is still nutrition support on the table as school lets out and grocery bills start to carry more of the load at home.

State officials say Summer EBT gives eligible children a single $120 payment for food during the summer months. If a child already has a Summer EBT card and remains eligible this year, the money may be loaded onto that same card; new participants will get a card mailed to the address the program has on file. Colorado also says families should keep their child’s school updated on any address or income changes and use their Summer EBT account to manage information.

For households that need another food option once classes end, Trinidad School District #1 is also offering a free summer lunch program from June 8 through July 9, 2026. Kids and teens 18 and younger eat free, meals must be eaten on site, no to-go meals will be provided, and adult meals cost $6.00. The district’s food support pages leave families with two practical choices for the summer: the state’s $120 benefit and a local lunch program that runs through early July.

Families with questions can use the state’s “Check my enrollment” tool, call the Summer EBT Support Center at 800-536-5298 for general questions, card replacements and address updates, or reach EBT Customer Service at 1-888-328-2656 for balance checks, PIN changes and lost or stolen cards. For Trinidad parents trying to stretch a summer food budget, those numbers and dates are the immediate next steps.