With most public school students out for the summer, North Carolina has launched a new program called SUN Bucks to help families in need buy groceries.
Here’s what to know.
What is SUN Bucks?
Calling summer “the hungriest time of the year” for some students, the U.S. Department of Agriculture developed SUN Bucks to provide supplementary nutrition for the months when children don’t have access to breakfast and lunch at school.
SUN Bucks is a summer electronic benefits transfer program that works through states, territories and tribes, connecting with families whose children qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school.
Families with eligible school-aged children can get $120 per child through the program to buy groceries during the summer. That’s in addition to SNAP and WIC benefits the family may also receive. Children and teens also can continue to get free SUN Meals from local meal sites or with SUN Meals To-Go served at schools, parks and other community locations.
Not all states enrolled in SUN Bucks. Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday North Carolina will participate with the help of state agencies as well private and corporate donors, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, Smithfield Foods, The Leon Levine Foundation, Dogwood Health Trust, Cone Health Foundation and Brighthouse Financial.
How do families enroll in SUN Bucks?
According to the USDA and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction,North Carolina families already enrolled in benefit programs such as SNAP who have school-age children will be enrolled automatically in SUN Bucks. Also, families with children who attend schools that offer the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and meet the income requirements for free or reduced-priced school meals may be enrolled automatically in SUN Bucks.
More than 900,000 North Carolina students rely on one or more of the programs schools use to provide meals and snacks, the state says.
Families with eligible students who are not automatically enrolled should receive an invitation to apply for SUN Bucks through text, email or automated phone call. Instructions on how to apply will be included.
The SUN Bucks application and instructions to apply are also available on the NCDHHS website.
Applications must be submitted by August 31 to be processed for the 2024 summer period.
State officials say more than 900,000 North Carolina children are eligible for a new program that provides $120 to buy groceries through the summer. N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
How does SUN Bucks work?
The USDA says that once a family is enrolled SUN Bucks funds will be added to existing SNAP benefits card or to a new benefits debit card.
For more information
To find nutritious summer meals near you at no-cost for kids and teens:
▪ Text “Food” to 304-304 for information in English or “COMIDA” to 304-304 for information in Spanish.
▪ Check your local school district website, social media or other communications.Check your local school district website, social media or other communications.
Caitlin Georgas hands out bag lunches to families with children displaced by closed Durham schools at an apartment complex on Garrett Road on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 in Durham, N.C. Georges and other volunteers from Jubilee Baptist Church were responsible for providing the food and preparing the meals. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published June 6, 2024 at 7:10 AM.
