Summer EBT in Georgia
A new statewide poll from No Kid Hungry shows many low-income Georgia families struggle to afford enough food during the summer. Of those eligible for Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, nearly 79% often find themselves without enough money for food and nearly three quarters (73%) struggle to provide their kids with enough nutritious food when school is out in the summer. The need in Georgia is high, with 1 in 5 kids facing hunger in Georgia. If implemented, it is estimated that the Summer EBT program would help prevent nearly 1.2 million school aged kids from facing summer hunger and funnel more than $138 million federal dollars into the state.
“The need in Georgia is high, with 1 in 5 kids living in food insecure households. For many of those kids, summer is the hungriest season. Summer EBT offers an unprecedented opportunity to end summer hunger by reaching kids we’ve never been able to reach before with traditional summer meal programs.” – Kate Goodin, No Kid Hungry Georgia
“The need in Georgia is high, with 1 in 5 kids living in food insecure households. For many of those kids, summer is the hungriest season. Summer EBT offers an unprecedented opportunity to end summer hunger by reaching kids we’ve never been able to reach before with traditional summer meal programs.” – Kate Goodin, No Kid Hungry Georgia
Georgia families know that summer can bring added pressure when school meals are no longer available. Nearly all Georgians (94%) agree that child hunger should not exist in the state and that ending childhood hunger in Georgia should be a bipartisan goal (92%). Georgians want to see more action from elected officials to end childhood hunger, with four in five (79%) saying Summer EBT and similar programs are core to achieving this goal.
Summer EBT — also known as SUN Bucks — has the potential to help bridge that gap by providing $120 in grocery benefits to eligible families during the summer months, helping kids stay nourished while school is out.
Across the country, states are using Summer EBT alongside summer meals programs to help families afford groceries, reduce food insecurity, and support children’s health and learning year-round. For Georgia, Summer EBT could mean fewer families forced to choose between groceries and other essentials, more support for rural and working families, and stronger local communities.
Where Are We Now?
Recently, Georgia kids have received big news: SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) is within reach! Georgia is on the verge of taking a critical first step toward making SUN Bucks a reality for nearly 1 million kids. State leaders have included funding in the proposed budget, and locking in this early investment is essential. It’s what sets Georgia up to build a strong, reliable program that reaches every eligible child by summer 2027. Advocates, community leaders, and champions like you can help make sure this investment becomes a reality. Below is more on what we can do next.
What’s Next?
Ensuring kids have access to nutritious food during the summer takes collaboration from communities, advocates, policymakers, schools, and families alike.
As Georgia explores the future of Summer EBT, No Kid Hungry Georgia will continue sharing opportunities to stay informed, elevate community voices, and support awareness efforts across the state. Future updates on this page may include advocacy resources, messaging tools, social media actions, and additional ways to help champion summer nutrition for kids.
In the News
Explore recent news coverage, updates, and community stories related to Summer EBT in Georgia, including testimonials from parents and caregivers sharing how summer nutrition support could make a difference for their families.
In the News
Georgia lawmakers weigh joining Sun Bucks program as budget talks continue
Watch WCTV’s coverage on Georgia lawmakers considering participation in the Sun Bucks program.
Watch the Video →In the News
Georgia won’t consider Summer EBT program this year
Read Yahoo News coverage on Georgia’s decision not to consider the Summer EBT program this year.
Read the Article →Parent Testimonial
“Boy, we’d be getting fast food a whole lot less frequently and would instead be buying a surplus of fresh fruits, vegetables, pastas, meats, etc.”
— Georgia Parent
Parent Testimonial
“It would be that many less meals that I had to worry about providing and knowing that they are healthy meals.”
— Mom in Paulding County, Georgia
Expert Perspective
“Finding qualified nonprofit organizations to operate the program can be difficult. Rising costs affect sponsors as well. They face high costs for food, labor, and transportation, leading to fewer active sites in high-need areas. SUN Bucks will supplement the program by providing a flexible grocery benefit that families can use on their own schedule, which is important in ‘food deserts’ or rural areas where a physical meal site may be miles away.”
— Cindy Kicklighter, Marketing and Outreach Specialist for DECAL
