How does it work?
Families receive $120 per eligible student for the summer months. These benefits work together with other nutrition assistance programs, such as summer meal sites, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to support students with consistent access to nutritious meals when school is out.
Read our FAQ page for more information.
Who is eligible?
Students are eligible for SUN Bucks if they:
- Attend a District of Columbia Public School, a DC public charter school, or a DC private school participating in the National School Lunch Program;
- Are enrolled in PreK, elementary, middle, or high school, or are an adult learner; AND
- Live in a household with an annual income less than or equal to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, for a family of 4, that's $57,720.
Why was SUN Bucks created?
The United States serves nearly 30 million students who participate in the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) school breakfast and lunch programs during the school year. However, many of the same students who lose access to these healthy meals during the summer months are at higher risk of food and nutrition insecurity. In December 2022, a bipartisan Congress created a new, permanent program to provide low-income families with students additional food access over the summer months. This program helps to close the summer hunger gap when students have less access to nutritious school meals.