{"id":29897,"date":"2026-05-08T10:19:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T17:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shfb.org\/?p=29897"},"modified":"2026-05-08T10:23:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T17:23:06","slug":"sun-bucks-program-encourages-food-security-for-kids-during-the-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shfb.org\/nl\/impact\/blog\/sun-bucks-program-encourages-food-security-for-kids-during-the-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Het SUN Bucks-programma bevordert voedselzekerheid voor kinderen tijdens de zomer\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summertime is supposed to be fun and carefree for kids, but for many families, it can mean additional financial strain. In a region where food insecurity is already higher than the national average, when school gets out thousands of Silicon Valley children lose reliable access to nutritious daily meals. But there\u2019s good news: SUN Bucks, the USDA\u2019s Summer EBT initiative, is here to help maximize families\u2019 food budgets this summer.<\/p>\n

Sulma, a single mom of two children living in Sunnyvale, shares this about her experience receiving SUN Bucks last summer: \u201cIt helped us so much because I was able to buy enough food for my kids.\u201d\u202f<\/p>\n

Through SUN Bucks, eligible families in California will receive $120 per child to spend on nutritious groceries throughout the summer months. The funds are provided via a convenient debit card, making it easy for families to shop for healthy foods at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and even certain online retailers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt [SUN Bucks] really helped us as we have the children at home all day, so they eat here more, so we spend more on food,\u201d says Diana, a mom of three kids living in San Jose. \u201cAll kinds of food, fruits, vegetables, juices, snacks, in these times when prices seem unattainable for us with low incomes.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rachel Monaco, Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, explains: \u201cDespite being one of the wealthiest regions in the nation, 1 in 4 children in Silicon Valley is at risk of hunger. Programs like SUN Bucks are essential to closing the summer hunger gap, helping families put food on the table when school meals are unavailable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now is the time to check your eligibility<\/h2>\n

Children ages 0-22 attending a school that offers the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program and who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals are automatically enrolled.1<\/sup><\/p>\n

Children who are age 6-18 years and already get CalFresh, CalWORKS, TANF, FDPIR, or Medi-Cal2<\/sup> during the 2025-2026 school year will automatically get SUN Bucks.<\/p>\n

If your child is not in one of the above programs, or if you\u2019re not sure if your child is eligible,3<\/sup> fill out a Universal Benefits Application<\/strong> to confirm eligibility so that you can ensure your SUN Bucks will be available when your child gets out of school for the summer. Check in with your child\u2019s school office<\/strong> for the application and preferred process. The Universal Benefits Application not only qualifies families for SUN Bucks but may also unlock additional benefits, including discounts on transportation, internet services and more.<\/p>\n

Still have questions regarding SUN Bucks eligibility or the Universal Benefits Application?<\/strong> You can call (877) 328-9677 and press option 5.<\/p>\n

Second Harvest is here to provide additional important resources for families, such as supporting you through the CalFresh application process or connecting you to a free food distribution site:<\/p>\n