In 2022, Rep. Carbajal helped pass legislation mandating the creation of a new grocery benefit that would provide children up to $120 for grocery purchases.
Other federal nutrition programs include providing dine-in and takeaway meals across the Central Coast.
Rep. Salud Carbajal (California’s 24th District) is encouraging Central Coast families to take advantage of the expanded federal nutrition programs available to children across California this summer, including new direct payments that lawmakers helped create through a bill passed in 2022.
A new set of programs launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will give families more choices and new ways to get summer nutrition support for children and teens. Sunbucksas well Sun Meals, And previously released SUN Takeout Meal program.
“Even on our beautiful Central Coast, summer vacation is not always a welcome time for children and families. The end of the school year means many school meal programs close until the fall, leaving families struggling to make ends meet. That’s why summer nutrition programs like the SUN Program are so important in putting food on the table for thousands of food insecure families across our region.” Councillor Carbajal said:“I was proud to work with my colleagues to create and fund the SUN Bucks program last semester and am excited that the program will launch this summer to help children across California and the Central Coast who lack access to nutritious meals between semesters.”
“On an average school day, approximately 30 million children participate in USDA’s school breakfast and lunch programs, but when school is closed, children lose access to these important meals.” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said:“USDA’s SUN program provides additional options for families to easily get the essential nutrients their children need to grow, learn and survive through the summer and beyond.”
Sunbucks This summer, each eligible school-age child will receive $120 for groceries, with the payment set to be adjusted for inflation.
More information on how California families can enroll in SUN Bucks can be found here.
Rep. Carbajal and his colleagues will meet in December 2022. Sunbucks The program will begin for the first time this summer.
In addition to the new grocery benefits, the SUN program also provides nutritious meals and snacks to children ages 18 and under in high-poverty areas and demographics across the United States during the summer months.
- Sun Meal Served at schools, parks, community centers and other neighborhood locations, this long-standing, in-person summer meal program has served the community since 1968. Meals are often provided in conjunction with enrichment activities to support children’s healthy growth and development.
- SUN Takeout Mealwill launch in 2023 and provide pick-up and delivery options in some rural areas where SUN Meals is not available.
SUN Meals and Meals To Go are available in stores across the Central Coast, a full map of stores can be found here.
For more information about these summer programs, visit www.fns.usda.gov/summer.
Carbajal voted earlier this year to fully fund the program and other nutrition programs through 2024.
These nutrition programs are part of the goals outlined by Congressman Carbajal and the Biden-Harris Administration during their historic meeting. White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health In September 2022, the White House will host its first hunger conference in half a century.
