Columbus, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new program meant to guarantee children have access to nutritious food even when school is not in session in an effort to fight summertime hunger among students. Known by many as SUN Bucks, the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT) will give $120 per qualified student to purchase food during summer.
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The program fills a vital need for families who rely on free or subsidized school meals during the academic year. For students depending on free or reduced school meals, summer might be the hungriest season of year. Schools closed means these families struggle to cover the meal gap, hence programs like SUN Bucks are a great safety net. Among more than 30 states engaged in the SUN Bucks program, Ohio is one of the only new permanent federal nutrition projects launched in more than half a century. This summer the initiative is projected to help 840,000 Ohio children.
“This program gives direct resources to families to be able to go to the store, and pick out the foods that are best for them and their families,” said Hope Lane-Gavin, director of nutrition policy and programs for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.
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Funds will be sent via Ohio Direction cards or sent to qualified children on a new card; all disbursements are expected to be finished by July 31. Launching a new federal program has practical difficulties that cause this schedule to be somewhat later than expected in next years.
“The distribution is happening a little bit later in the summer time than it will in subsequent summers,” Hires said. “It’s mostly just because in standing up a brand new program, there’s a lot of different processes that have to be put into place.”
Families that find their Summer EBT payments lacking by the end of July should get in touch with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. To further guarantee they get enough nourishment all through the summer, qualified students can also take advantage of other offered nutrition initiatives like local food banks or summer meal locations.
Broad range of children qualify for SUN Bucks. Many will be automatically enrolled, including those whose families get SNAP or Ohio Works First benefits, children receiving Medicaid that met the free and reduced-price lunch threshold during the previous school year, and children approved for free or reduced-price school meals via the National School Lunch Program last school year.
Other eligible children include those from households making less than 185% of the federal poverty line, homeless children, and migrant children; they will need to apply via the state’s approved website.
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One of SUN Bucks’ main strengths is its adaptability, which lets families modify food purchases to fit cultural preferences, food allergies, even picky eaters.
“Kids are really picky,” Lane-Gavin said. “That’s the reality. Kids are picky, and that’s okay. They still need to eat.”