In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, state officials are stressing the need to keep kids well-fed throughout the year. This is particularly important during the summer months when school meals are not available. To support families, Pennsylvania is participating again in the SUN Bucks program. This federal initiative provides benefits to help eligible families buy fresh food and groceries.
Officials like Catherine Stetler from the Department of Human Services and Dr. Carrie Rowe from the Department of Education recently joined forces with organizations like Feeding Pennsylvania to promote this valuable program. SUN Bucks works by giving eligible children a benefit similar to SNAP to help them during the summer break.
For summer 2025, most benefits will start rolling out in late July, with all benefits distributed by the end of September. Families who already receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year will see these benefits without needing to apply. However, those who aren’t automatically eligible must apply by August 31.
To check eligibility, families can use the SUN Bucks Eligibility Navigator on the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website.
“We want to give parents the tools they need to keep their children healthy and thriving,” Stetler said. “The SUN Bucks program is crucial during summer when kids are away from school meals.”
Governor Shapiro believes this program is vital. “Hunger doesn’t take a summer break,” Rowe noted. This initiative echoes the state’s universal free breakfast program during the school year, ensuring that students can return to school nourished and ready to learn.
Nutrition is key to child development. The Shapiro administration aims to make sure that students in Pennsylvania start their day with a healthy meal. For the 2025-26 school year, their budget proposes continued funding for universal free school breakfast, benefiting 1.7 million students. Remarkably, in 2024, schools served over 90 million breakfast meals—nearly 10 million more than the previous year.
During summer, families often face higher food costs without school meals. SUN Bucks helps ease that burden, offering a one-time payment of $40 per month for each eligible child, with a maximum of $120. Around 1.3 million children in Pennsylvania are expected to qualify for this program in 2025.
Most kids will automatically be eligible for SUN Bucks. If families already have an EBT card, the benefits will be added without additional steps. For others who need to apply, they can use the SUN Bucks Eligibility Navigator to determine eligibility. Applications can be submitted online, by mail, or at local assistance offices. The deadline for applications is August 31, 2025.
Accessing resources like SUN Bucks can make a significant difference for families, showing how governments can step in to help during challenging times. In today’s world, where food insecurity is a real concern, programs like these reflect a commitment to nourishing our children and supporting their futures.
