Officials with the Arizona departments of Education and Economic Security have announced the launch of SUN Bucks, a new federal grocery benefits program. SUN Bucks will provide $120 per eligible child to low-income households to purchase nutritious food this summer.
On June 2, the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) began issuing the first SUN Bucks to nearly 288,000 children receiving Nutrition and/or Cash Assistance benefits, and a total of 605,000 children are estimated to benefit from the program this summer.
“Good nutrition is essential to support the health and development of all students,” said Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne. “We are working with the USDA and DES to bring this federal grocery benefits program to Arizona, which is projected to provide additional assistance to over 600,000 students who might not otherwise have the meals they need this summer.”
“We know that food hardship rises during the summer for households with school-age children and that such hardship, even if short-lived, can negatively impact a child’s long-term health and wellbeing,” stated Angie Rodgers, CEO of DES. “Programs such as SunBucks play an important role in addressing food insecurity and connecting children across the state with meals during the summer.”
Eligible families participating in the National School Lunch and/or Breakfast Programs that are eligible for free or reduced lunches will be able to receive this assistance, in addition to eligible families who have received Nutrition, Cash and/or Medical Assistance benefits (Medical Assistance recipients must be below 185% of FPL) anytime between July 01, 2023 through July 1, 2024.
The first benefits were issued to families served by DES this past weekend and placed directly onto their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, alongside other Nutrition and/or Cash Assistance benefits they normally receive. Families who do not already have an EBT card but are participating in the National School Lunch and/or Breakfast Programs will receive a new EBT card in mid-July 2024.
Additionally, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) will launch a new application this summer for families who have not already submitted a free or reduced-price meal application or alternate income form with their child’s eligible school. Only schools that are on the NSLP roster will be eligible for the benefit.
The SUN Bucks program was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service to support eligible households with school-age children in purchasing nutritious food during the summer months. Each participating state must submit a plan to the USDA for approval, and Arizona’s plan was approved in May.