FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2026
House Leadership Will Keep Georgia Kids Fed During Summer
Budget includes state share that will draw down $143 million in federal funds to help eligible families afford food
CONTACT: Laura Rice, Lrice@strength.org
No Kid Hungry Georgia today praised the Georgia House for including funding for the SUN Bucks program that will provide food security to 1.1 million Georgia children during the summer months when they don’t have access to school meals. The House-passed budget includes a $2 million down payment on the state’s $5 million share that will draw down $143 million in federal funds annually.
“The House’s compassionate leadership will help working families bridge the nutrition gap when school is out and make a meaningful investment in our children’s health, academic success, and long-term well-being,” said Kate Goodin of No Kid Hungry Georgia. “The SUN Bucks program has long enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress, and it’s used effectively in other Southern states such as Alabama and Arkansas. We applaud Georgia legislators for taking this step to address the affordability crisis for hard working families. This funding will bring an incredible return on investment that turns $5 million into $143 million, with every dollar flowing directly into grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and small businesses across Georgia, especially in rural communities.”
“The House’s compassionate leadership will help working families bridge the nutrition gap when school is out and make a meaningful investment in our children’s health, academic success, and long-term well-being.”
The SUN Bucks program, also known as Summer EBT, helps hard-working eligible families afford groceries when school is out, ensuring kids can continue to get the nutrition they need. The program provides a $120 grocery benefit per eligible child, helping parents afford the nutritious food their children need during the summer months.
The SUN Bucks program would help 1.1 million Georgia children access healthy meals during the summer months — ensuring they continue to grow, thrive, and return to school ready to learn after summer break.
“With the fate of this program now in the hands of the Senate, we strongly urge senators to keep this critical funding in the budget because there’s no investment that will pay greater dividends and do more for families that are struggling despite the fact they’re going to work every day,” said Goodin.
About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids in the United States live with hunger. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.
