SUN Bucks & Summer Food Rocks
SUN Bucks benefits will be issued beginning in mid-July 2025. If you have not received a notification about your eligibility for SUN Bucks by mid-July and believe that your child(ren) are automatically eligible, contact the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930.
Please note - not all students who attend Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools (such as Apollo-Ridge) will automatically receive SUN Bucks. Even though our students receive free meals during the regular school year, they must be Directly Certified (receiving SNAP and/or TANF) or categorically eligible (homeless, foster, migrant, runaway) to automatically receive 2025 SUN Bucks. Otherwise, the household must apply for SUN Bucks through the Department of Human Services.
ABOUT SUN BUCKS
In December 2022, a bipartisan Congress authorized a new, permanent
program for States, U.S. territories and certain tribal nations to provide food
dollars to low-income families with school-age children over the summer
months.
program for States, U.S. territories and certain tribal nations to provide food
dollars to low-income families with school-age children over the summer
months.
The program, called Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), and now
officially SUN Bucks, is proven to reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition
of children on summer break.
The program was successfully tested by the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) in a group of states for several years and through the
summer component of Pandemic-EBT. USDA evaluation shows that there was
a 33% decrease in children's food hardship after benefits were issued, and
that 2.7-3.9 million children were lifted out of hunger.
Agriculture (USDA) in a group of states for several years and through the
summer component of Pandemic-EBT. USDA evaluation shows that there was
a 33% decrease in children's food hardship after benefits were issued, and
that 2.7-3.9 million children were lifted out of hunger.
Starting in summer 2024, States, territories and certain tribal nations can
provide $40 per summer month per child to families with eligible school-age
children for them to buy groceries, like how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) benefits are used. SUN Bucks will work together with other
USDA nutrition programs to connect every eligible child with nutritious food in
the summer.
Pennsylvania is one of 46 entities launching SUN Bucks in summer 2024.
Benefits will be expunged four (4) months after date of issuance.
Summer Food Rocks
Find Summer Meals in Your Community
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as the Summer Meals Program, provides kids and teens in low-income areas free meals when school is out. There are a number of ways that local organizations can be a part of the Summer Meals Program. Families may use any of the following methods to locate sites that serve free meals to children during the summer:
•Call 211
•Call 1.866.3Hungry or 1.877.8Hambre
•Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877877 during the summer months
•Text “SUMMER MEALS” or “VERANO” to 97779.
•Use the website: www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks
•Use the site locator for smartphones - Rangeapp.org