New federal program to provide summer meal money for eligible families
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching a new program to provide extra cash for groceries to eligible families during the summer break.
A new summer meal assistance program is launching in some states for the first time. It’s just one of the strategies being deployed to keep students fed while school is out.Under the “SUN Bucks” program, also called Summer EBT, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says families will receive $120 per eligible student to buy groceries during the summer break. “Having that little bit of extra to be able to have fresh fruits and fresh vegetables on hand for the kids when they’re home over the summer is just absolutely huge,” said Zee Zaidoff, a mother and community activist who expects to benefit from the program. The USDA says most states are participating but at least thirteen are not, and some are still finalizing their plans.“We believe that, with the states that are participating this summer, we’re going to reach 21 million children with the SUN Bucks program,” said USDA Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long.The USDA also says if you’re already enrolled in other benefits like SNAP, your children will be signed up automatically, but others who meet the income requirements may need to apply. “Children who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals are eligible for SUN Bucks and, one of the great things about the program, is that many of those kids won’t even have to go through an application process,” Long said. USDA says the money may be automatically added to your SNAP account, issued as a separate electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, or sent in other ways depending on where you live.Families in some locations will see the funds starting in June, but parents should check with their local issuing agency, as the timeline may vary. A USDA spokesperson said process delays are possible, especially with a new benefit program. Parents, like Zaidoff, are expecting a wait. “We were told that it’s very possible the SUN Bucks won’t even come till September or October,” she said. Other summer meal options are available this summer, in addition to SUN Bucks. Many schools and community centers offer free meals on-site and, in some rural areas, parents can get meals to-go. USDA’s “Summer Meal Site Finder” can help families find out what’s being offered in their area.States that are not opting into the SUN Buck’s program this year will have another chance to participate in the future. Some Republican governors previously raised concerns about a lack of nutrition standards and called the program, which is similar to a strategy used during the COVID-19 pandemic, unsustainable. Other states said they were having trouble rallying the resources to deploy the program. Long pointed to research showing this type of summer grocery benefit can reduce child hunger in the summer by 33% and improve eating patterns. “Historically, with that traditional summer program where kids come together to have meals, we’ve only been able to reach one in six of the kids that we reach during the year with free or reduced-price school meals. So these programs were absolutely meant to fill that gap,” Long said.
A new summer meal assistance program is launching in some states for the first time. It’s just one of the strategies being deployed to keep students fed while school is out.
Under the “SUN Bucks” program, also called Summer EBT, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says families will receive $120 per eligible student to buy groceries during the summer break.
“Having that little bit of extra to be able to have fresh fruits and fresh vegetables on hand for the kids when they’re home over the summer is just absolutely huge,” said Zee Zaidoff, a mother and community activist who expects to benefit from the program.
The USDA says most states are participating but at least thirteen are not, and some are still finalizing their plans.
“We believe that, with the states that are participating this summer, we’re going to reach 21 million children with the SUN Bucks program,” said USDA Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long.
The USDA also says if you’re already enrolled in other benefits like SNAP, your children will be signed up automatically, but others who meet the income requirements may need to apply.
“Children who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals are eligible for SUN Bucks and, one of the great things about the program, is that many of those kids won’t even have to go through an application process,” Long said.
USDA says the money may be automatically added to your SNAP account, issued as a separate electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, or sent in other ways depending on where you live.
Families in some locations will see the funds starting in June, but parents should check with their local issuing agency, as the timeline may vary. A USDA spokesperson said process delays are possible, especially with a new benefit program.
Parents, like Zaidoff, are expecting a wait.
“We were told that it’s very possible the SUN Bucks won’t even come till September or October,” she said.
Other summer meal options are available this summer, in addition to SUN Bucks.
Many schools and community centers offer free meals on-site and, in some rural areas, parents can get meals to-go.
USDA’s “Summer Meal Site Finder” can help families find out what’s being offered in their area.
States that are not opting into the SUN Buck’s program this year will have another chance to participate in the future.
Some Republican governors previously raised concerns about a lack of nutrition standards and called the program, which is similar to a strategy used during the COVID-19 pandemic, unsustainable. Other states said they were having trouble rallying the resources to deploy the program.
Long pointed to research showing this type of summer grocery benefit can reduce child hunger in the summer by 33% and improve eating patterns.
“Historically, with that traditional summer program where kids come together to have meals, we’ve only been able to reach one in six of the kids that we reach during the year with free or reduced-price school meals. So these programs were absolutely meant to fill that gap,” Long said.
