While Ohio students are on summer break, their families can get help paying for groceries through a new statewide program. Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, will provide eligible families with $120 for each child in school, issued on an Ohio Directions Card.
“We know there are many children who would benefit from receiving free or reduced-price meals while they are in school,” said Cam McKenzie, SNAP outreach manager at Free Store Food Bank, “and just because school is out doesn’t mean their hunger desires go away.”
Approximately 30,000 students in Cincinnati Public Schools are eligible to receive free lunches during the school year, according to a Spectrum News 1 article from 2022. When summer vacation rolls around, these students can continue to receive free meals at libraries and community facilities through Ohio’s Summer Food Service Program.
The new SUN Bucks program gives students even more nutritional choices: $120 can be used to purchase groceries at licensed grocery stores.
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“Having things that kids can make themselves is super helpful,” McKenzie said. “If it’s something school-age kids are going to make, like peanut butter and jelly, it should be something that’s readily available and easy to make, so they can help out.”
According to a press release from the Ohio Department of Education and Labor and the Ohio Association of Food Banks, SUN Bucks is the first new permanent federal nutrition assistance program in more than 50 years and is modeled after the Pandemic EBT program.
“We’ve actually been able to lift a lot of kids out of poverty, and we’ve seen food lines go down a little bit at the food banks because people have given back,” said Audrey VanZant, communications director for the Ohio Food Bank Association.
The Ohio Department of Education and Labor administers the SUN Bucks program. Benefits will be processed in mid-June. Many families will receive benefits automatically. Some families will need to apply online.
Who automatically receives SUN Bucks rewards?
- Children whose families received SNAP or Ohio Works First benefits
- Medicaid children who meet the criteria for free or reduced-price lunch during the 2023-2024 school year
- Children who have applied individually and been approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in the 2023-2024 school year
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Who needs to apply for SUN Bucks benefits?
- Homeless Children
- Children who receive free or reduced-price school meals but have not completed an application for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) (for example, because they attend a Community Entitlement School where all students receive free or reduced-price school meals without the need to apply).
- Children from families whose monthly income is less than 185% of the federal poverty line and who are not currently receiving other public benefits
How to Apply
Families and students can apply for SUN Bucks benefits at sebt.ohio.gov. Freestore Foodbank is offering free application assistance at its Customer Connection Center, located at 112 East Liberty St., or by calling 513-381-7627.
