Children in Washington don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from over the summer thanks to a federally-funded food program.
‘SUN Bucks‘ is a summer EBT program that provides children in Washington with funds to buy food over the summer when school meals are not available.
The Department of Social Health Services (DSHS) and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) are working together to distribute the benefits starting in June.
“Food is foundational to everyone’s well-being,” said DSHS Acting Secretary Cheryl Strange. “We are pleased to partner with OSPI to ensure as much support for children and families as we can, especially during the summer months when other resources are not as readily available, and during a time when grocery costs remain very high in our state.”
SUN Bucks are a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child. The funds will be distributed onto existing SUN Bucks cards and new cards will be mailed to newly eligible children starting the first week of June.
Children will auto-qualify for SUN Bucks if they:
Are ages 8-18 and a member of a household that receives SNAP benefits or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefitsAttend a school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program and is directly certified for free or reduced-price school meals or meets income requirements
Parents and guardians of children who do not automatically qualify can apply by submitting a SUN Bucks application.
Applications are available in both English and Spanish.
For more information on the program, eligibility requirements and to apply, visit www.dshs.wa.gov.
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