USDA Makes Available $100M for SUN Bucks Program

Okay, here’s a dad joke that may take some explaining — What is the opposite of reindeer? SUN Bucks! Don’t get it? Well, let’s add some context.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week provided $100 million in grants to help states, tribal nations and U.S. territories implement SUN Bucks, which is a new, permanent program that helps families buy groceries for their children during the summer. SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is part of the SUN Programs: USDA’s Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids that lower costs for families and improve food and nutrition security during summer break when kids lose access to school meals.

SUN Bucks provides families in participating states a $120 grocery benefit for each eligible school-aged child to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets and other authorized retailers. USDA estimates that when SUN Bucks is fully implemented, it will reach more than 30 million children nationwide.

According to USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small: “When school is out, the new, permanent SUN Bucks program provides a lifeline to kids, and USDA wants to ensure as many families are able to access the benefits as possible. That's why USDA is providing grant funding to help states improve the technology systems that deliver SUN Bucks to families and ensure kids are fed.”

These grants also will support development and modifications to state technology systems that are needed to effectively run the program with proper controls and integrity. The funds are available to all agencies implementing SUN Bucks this year, as well as those planning to launch the program next summer.

Information about the program, including a map of the participating states, tribes and territories, is available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sunbucks.

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