Did you know that kids may be eligible for BOTH free meals and SUN Bucks grocery benefits in the summer?
Children and families can participate in both SUN Bucks and Summer Meals programs, as well as other benefit programs like the CalFresh (SNAP). These programs work hand-in-hand to provide families multiple ways to get healthy food throughout the summer when school is out and school meals stop.
FREE SUMMER MEALS a.k.a
Summer Meals programs, also known as SUN Meals, provides free meals to kids 18 and under at various sites like schools, libraries, and parks throughout the summer months.
Non-congregate Summer Meals programs, also known as SUN Meals To-Go, provide convenient, flexible options for families in rural areas by allowing meals to be picked up or delivered instead of eaten on-site.
Contact your child’s school nutrition services to confirm program details, location, and times.
Stopping by a summer meals site with your family not only saves you time and money spent grocery shopping and meal prepping; it also helps support your community.
You can also visit NoKidHungry.org/Help (English) or NoKidHungry.org/Ayuda (Español) for more information.
Are you in need of immediate food aid?
The National Hunger Hotline staff connects callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance programs, and various social services.
Contact the National Hunger Hotline:
- CALL 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) for English
- CALL 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) para Español
- TEXT “FOOD”, “SUMMER”, or “MEALS” to 914-342-7744
Help with Summer Meals Outreach!
No Kid Hungry has created a Summer Meals Outreach Toolkit to help. A range of ready-made and customizable promotional materials is available to help publicize summer meals in your community. Use these resources to maximize the impact of outreach efforts in schools, faith communities, community organizations, and online.
When school is out for the summer, millions of children across California lose access to the free school meals they rely on during the school year. Summer EBT – also known as SUN Bucks here in California, is a federal initiative designed to help bridge that gap. By providing grocery benefits to families with school-age children, SUN Bucks ensures that kids can continue to get the healthy food they need to thrive even when school is not in session.
SUN Bucks is a food program that provides $120 families $120 per eligible child to buy groceries during the summer. Children who get SUN Bucks can still receive other food programs like CalFresh & summer meals! SUN Bucks is for all eligible children, and will NOT affect immigration status.
Most eligible children are automatically enrolled, but others may need to apply. Check your child’s eligibility with the Eligibility Tool by visiting SummerEBT.org/states/california (English) or SummerEBT.org/es-us/states/california (Español).
If your child will get SUN Bucks automatically:
Make sure your mailing address is updated with your county so your SUN Bucks are sent to the right place!
If your child will need to apply for SUN Bucks:
Submit a “Universal Benefits Application” form by August 31, 2026. Ask your child’s school for information about where to get the form and how to submit it.
For assistance, call the statewide SUN Bucks helpline at (877) 328-9677 or visit the CDSS website: cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks
Help with SUN Bucks Outreach!
Whether you’re new to the program or looking for more information, here’s everything you need to know about how it works, who qualifies and how to apply. With your support spreading the word, we’ll make sure every child gets the food they need during the summer. Our SUN Bucks Outreach Toolkit was created to help you get the word out to families about the grocery benefit available for children and teens this summer.
CalFresh helps 1.7 million
kids in California!
When kids are enrolled in CalFresh, they get the food they need to grow and succeed both at school and at home, but many eligible families may not know they qualify or how to sign up.
At home: Spend less time worrying about getting food on the table and more time to spend with their family.
At school: Students enrolled in CalFresh are directly enrolled for free school meals, SUN Bucks, and other educational benefit programs. When students consistently get the food they need, it leads to lower rates of chronic absenteeism, stronger academic achievement and fewer health and behavioral issues.
Visit mRelief.com to try their CalFresh Eligibility Screening Tool.
Get CalFresh!
CLICK
Apply online at BenefitsCal.com
CALL
Apply over the phone at 1-877-847-3663
COME IN
Apply in person at your county office.
Additional Food & Family Support Resources
FoodFinder
Use FoodFinder’s website or app to find food pantries in your area. Food pantries provide groceries and other resources to families and individuals year-round. foodfinder.us/
WIC
USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: From the moment you find out you’re expecting until your child turns 5, WIC provides free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and referrals to other services, to support you and your family. www.fns.usda.gov/wic
Food Banks & Pantries
California has an extensive food bank & community-based pantry network. Before visiting, contact them directly or check their website for information about their programs. Visit the California Association of Food Banks’ website to find your local food bank. www.cafoodbanks.org/find-food/. You can also call 2-1-1, a resource helpline for referrals for childcare, affordable housing or shelter, cash assistance, healthcare and more.
Benefits Information for Immigrant Families
Families can visit KeepYourBenefits.org for up-to-date information and facts on public charge and public benefits. Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Coalition have also developed materials in multiple languages that help immigrant families navigate access to the most common food and nutrition programs, addressing specific concerns about eligibility, immigration status, and mixed-status families. Talk to a local expert on public benefits and immigration. Immigrants who can get CalFresh benefits still need to meet the regular CalFresh income guidelines.
Last update: May 29, 2026
