As school lets out and summer break begins, many Sacramento County families face the challenge of ensuring their children have consistent access to nutritious meals. To help bridge the seasonal meal gap, the California Department of Social Services is bringing back its SUN Bucks program—also known as Summer EBT—for summer 2025.
The SUN Bucks program provides $120 per eligible child in food benefits to families across California, including Sacramento County. The funds, distributed in three monthly installments of $40 for June, July and August, aim to replace meals children typically receive at school during the academic year.
Eligibility for SUN Bucks is automatic for many families. Children between the ages of 6 and 18 who receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal benefits under income levels below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level are enrolled without the need to apply. Additionally, children between the ages of 0 and 22 attending schools that participate in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs will qualify if they are approved for free or reduced-price meals through a school meal application or Alternative Income Form.
Special populations, including children experiencing homelessness, living in foster care, enrolled in Head Start, or part of migrant families, also automatically qualify.
SUN Bucks are distributed through S-EBT cards that are mailed directly to households in waves based on last name. Families will receive a separate card for each eligible child. These cards work like a debit card and can be used to purchase food items such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and whole grains at participating grocery stores, farmers markets, and any retailer that accepts CalFresh EBT.
Officials emphasize that no application is necessary for most eligible households, but families with questions or those who have not received their child’s card can visit the CDSS SUN Bucks website or call 1-800-560-0976 for support.
More details, including additional food assistance resources and eligibility guidance, can also be found through the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance.
