Information for NC Educators:
SUN Bucks: Benefits to purchase nutritious foods during the summer months
What is SUN Bucks?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a new, permanent program to provide food assistance to children and families during the summer. The SUN Bucks program will officially launch in North Carolina in summer 2024! SUN Bucks will provide grocery-buying benefits to qualifying families with school-aged children during the summer months when schools are on summer break. SUN Bucks is sometimes referred to as Summer EBT.
SUN Bucks benefits are issued to debit-like cards (EBT cards) that families can use to purchase nutritious food. Beginning in summer 2024, families will receive $120 per eligible child for the summer period.
Stay Tuned!
More information about the SUN Bucks program will be shared as it becomes available, including more details about eligibility, issuance dates, and frequently asked questions. Please monitor the NCDHHS webpage at www.ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks and the NCDHHS Instagram, Facebook page, and X account (Twitter) for the most up-to-date information.
How May Educational Stakeholders Get Involved?
Eligible students may receive their SUN Bucks card this summer at their mailing address on file at their school. If a child is approved for or receives National School Lunch Program Free or Reduced-Price meals at their school, they may automatically qualify to receive SUN Bucks this summer.
Use the SUN Bucks School Search Tool to see if your school participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Whether or not the school is NSLP or CEP may impact a child’s eligibility.
SUN Bucks Educational Stakeholder Webinar
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) along with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), held webinars in early March 2024 for educational stakeholders (school nutrition teams, data managers, principals and superintendents, etc.) to provide an overview of SUN Bucks and what this new program means for educational stakeholders.
Webinar Video Recording: 38 minutes
Helpful Resources
SIS Coordinators Flyer
Purpose: This informational flyer includes important information for SIS Coordinators, who play a critical role in pulling the necessary data to determine student eligibility for SUN Bucks.
Social Media Toolkit
Purpose: School stakeholders may utilize the attached social media stock images and content to share information about the SUN Bucks program on their Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter) pages.
SUN Bucks Overview Flyer
Purpose: This flyer provides a more high-level overview of the SUN Bucks program compared to the Informational Flyer. It is also available in black and white to accommodate printing needs.
SUN Bucks Informational Flyer
Purpose: The purpose of this flyer is to provide more information on the SUN Bucks program, including who should apply.