SUN Bucks (also known as Summer EBT) is a new federal nutrition program that provides grocery benefits during the summer months to families with children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. In Pennsylvania, SUN Bucks is administered by the Department of Human Services, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and will provide $120 per child per summer, provided on a debit-style EBT card that can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and online. Pilots of Summer EBT conducted over several years have shown the program reduced child food insecurity by a third for participating children and increased consumption of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. In Pennsylvania, 1,166,000 children will be able to access these new benefits by October 2024.
Stay tuned for more information and resources as it becomes available.