Free summer meal program ensures children have adequate nutrition

School-age children eating sandwiches together and one child is smiling at the camera. — *The SUN Bucks program returns this summer to ensure families with eligible children have adequate nutrition while school is out*.

The SUN Bucks program returns this summer! Low-income families can ensure their children have adequate nutrition while school is out with California SUN Bucks, also called Summer-Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT), a permanent federal meal program launched by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). SUN Bucks helps families with school-aged children purchase groceries during the summer months, June through August 2025, when children might not have access to school meals.

Children will automatically receive SUN Bucks if they are:

6 – 18 years old and get CalFresh, CalWORKs or Medi-Cal (certified at or under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level), including homeschooled children, or

0 – 22 years old and are:
- Attending schools that are a part of the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs, and
- Approved for free or reduced-price meals.

Note: Parents and caretakers should check with their child’s school to make sure their free or reduced-price meal application or Alternative Income Form is on file. If not, parents can submit a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application to their school or school administrator’s office by Sept. 1, 2025, to determine if they qualify for SUN Bucks.

SUN Bucks are on S-EBT cards that are mailed out to nearly five million automatically eligible children starting mid-June through August 2025.

Each eligible child will receive one card with a total of $120 to purchase groceries, equivalent to $40 per month for June, July and August. The S-EBT card can be used just like a debit card to purchase food such as fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains and dairy at grocery stores, farmers markets and other places that accept CalFresh EBT benefits. Children who get SUN Bucks can still participate in other summer meal programs.

SUN Bucks must be used within 122 days from the date it was loaded on the S-EBT card. Any unused money on the card after 122 days will expire and cannot be replaced or loaded back onto the card.

Families are encouraged to update their mailing address to ensure their SUN Bucks are sent to the right place.

Those receiving CalWORKs, CalFresh or Medi-Cal can update their address:

Online at BenefitsCal.com,
By calling 1-877-410-8829, or
Visiting their local San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) office.

Parents of children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals can update their address at their child’s school of attendance.

For additional information about SUN Bucks, please visit the CDSS website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks.

Additional County Update News – May 15, 2025