Distribution of food coupons for students begins Wed, March 9

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The local Education Department (ASDOE) announced plans last Friday to implement a food coupon assistance program for all public and private schools in the territory.

The food coupons will begin to be issued on Wednesday, Mar. 9 at 8a.m. at the school the student attends. And each student will receive a one-time food coupon valued at $200 to assist with the purchase of food items during the Red Code declaration.

“Absolutely no students are allowed at the school pick up sites,” the notice declared, adding that only one parent or legal guardian on record with ASDOE is approved to pick up the coupons from their children’s schools.

Parents and legal guardians are reminded to wear masks properly, practice social distancing, and sanitize hands at all times to ensure safety for all.

ASDOE released on its Facebook page the distribution plan, which covers a four-day period, and is based alphabetically on the student’s last name. (For students in private schools, Samoa News suggests contacting the individual school for specific information.)

COVID-19 Task Force, chairman, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale acknowledged at last Thursday’s news conference the distribution of food coupons for students and that ASDOE had already submitted a plan for approval.

According to Talauega, “there’s also work to be done” on the federally funded Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program (P-EBT) and the “calculation, will not be completed until the end of the school year and then students will be notified on how much they will be entitled to.”

As previously reported by Samoa News, the federally funded P-EBT program provides food assistance for school children who have lost access to free meals at school because of the pandemic. And ASDOE works in collaboration with Human and Social Service Department  in the P-BET.