San Diego City Wire

New this summer, California is launching a program to provide additional grocery funds for families with school-aged children who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the academic year. The initiative, known as SUN Bucks or Summer-EBT, will begin next month and offer an extra $40 per month in food benefits to eligible children for purchasing groceries during June, July, and August.

SUN Bucks function similarly to CalFresh and can be used to buy various foods like fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products at most grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and other authorized retailers. Eligibility extends to children who receive free or reduced-price school meals through a school meal application or an Alternative Income Form. It also includes those who benefit from CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal. Children attending Head Start programs, those experiencing homelessness, living in foster care or part of a migrant family will be automatically enrolled without needing to apply.

“No child should spend their summer hungry,” said Richard Wanne, Director of the County Department of Self Sufficiency. “SUN Bucks are a great way to ensure families in need don’t have to worry about how they will put food on the table.”

The SUN Bucks cards will be mailed directly to eligible households with a one-time lump sum of $120 per child. It's important to note that children who receive SUN Bucks can still participate in other summer meal programs.

For those whose children do not meet the requirements for automatic enrollment but may still be eligible for the program, parents are advised to ask their child’s school for a school meal application or an Alternative Income Form. Upon returning the form to the school, it will be evaluated to determine if the children are eligible for SUN Bucks.