New program to provide food over summer break: Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer — also known as SUN Bucks

By Victoria Budiono

A new program will help households with school-age children buy food during the summer when school meals aren’t available, with the application period now open.

Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer — also known as SUN Bucks — was launched by the state Department of Human Services in collaboration with the state Department of Education. The program will disburse $177 for each qualifying child to be spent during the period mirroring the DOE’s summer break, June 1 through Aug. 4.

The new and permanent program is funded by both the state, which is contributing $1.95 million, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is kicking in $17.7 million, for a total of over $19.5 million.

DHS projects the program will aid over 100,000 children age 6 to 17.

“Families who rely on healthy school breakfast and lunch for their children often have a difficult time accessing healthy food during the summer,” Hawaii first lady Jaime Green said in a statement. “The SUN Bucks program provides meaningful action to tackle childhood hunger and to help our keiki to play, learn, grow and be healthy during the summer months.”

SUN Bucks can be used at any store where EBT benefits are accepted. The cards can be used only to buy nutritious groceries, including fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry and fish, dairy products, breads and cereals, and snack foods and nonalcoholic drinks.

There is no minimum dollar amount per transaction and no limit on the number of transactions. Unused benefits expire 122 days after issued and cannot be reloaded.

While some students eligible for Pandemic EBT won’t qualify for SUN Bucks, many will be automatically approved. Unlike P-EBT, some families must apply for SUN Bucks.

Homeschool families that received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families any time from July 1, 2023, through Aug. 4 of this year, or who have a foster child, also are eligible for SUN Bucks.

Eligibility must be established annually.

Students are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks without needing to apply if:

>> Their household participated in SNAP or TANF between July 1, 2023, and Aug. 4, 2024.

>> They are identified as a foster child, homeless, a migrant or runaway by their school.

>> They attended a school offering the National School Lunch Program and their household applied for and received free or reduced- price school meals. Exceptions include Head Start and other pre-K students who attended an NSLP- participating school.