School-aged children in Maryland who receive free or reduced-price meals will automatically be enrolled in the SUN Bucks program, an initiative to provide low-income families with grocery money in the summer.
Buckingham Elementary School students are pictured in the cafeteria on the first day of the 2023-24 academic year.
Photo courtesy Worcester County Public Schools
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
School-aged children in Maryland who receive free or reduced-price meals in the academic year will automatically be enrolled in the SUN Bucks program. This initiative provides low-income families with grocery money for students in the summer.
Households that qualify for the program will receive $40 each month in June, July and August for a $120 summer allowance for each eligible student. The financial assistance is meant to purchase food for the child while they are not receiving the free or reduced-priced meals they would during the school year.
According to a July 1 press release from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) office, roughly 90% of qualifying families will automatically be enrolled in the program, provided they received reduced-price meals in the previous school year, are aged five to 18, and their family participates in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or Temporary Cash Assistance or is in foster care.
“SUN Bucks is a summer EBT program,” Worcester County Department of Social Services SUN Bucks Administrator Jamie Powell said. “It is going to help families, a lot who have been directly certified, granted they were approved by July 1, 2023, for free or reduced lunch or are a foster care, homeless or runaway child.”
Powell said that the venture is a permanent program through the federal government and that most children are between the ages of five and 18. However, preschoolers and 19-year-olds who are still in school may also be eligible.
If the family is already participating in SNAP, the Maryland SUN Bucks money will be automatically uploaded to their EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card. The governor’s press release said that a Maryland SUN Bucks card will be issued in the child’s name if they do not receive SNAP.
Families that fail to meet these criteria but believe they are eligible must submit an application before August 31, 2024, to receive the benefits. Students who have transferred schools or whose parents did not apply for the Free and Reduced-Price School Meals program may fall under this umbrella. Eligible recipients can apply online.
“During the school year, many of these students will have meals taken care of,” Powell said. “That takes stress off parents’ budget for food. It’s harder in the summertime. This program will alleviate financial stress for families.”
Households that apply and are deemed eligible this year will be automatically certified for the following summer. Director at the Worcester County Department of Social Services Roberta Baldwin said the program will serve over 500,000 students statewide and approximately 3,600 in Worcester County.
“This is not a one-and-done benefit,” she noted. “This will be an ongoing support for families…This program supports our goal of trying to end childhood poverty.”
Baldwin said she wants to ensure the community is aware of the program. Those with questions can call 410-677-6800 and press three to speak with a live human at the Worcester County Department of Social Services.