Information for NC Educators:

We are amplifying these messages from the NC Department of Health and Human Services about SUN Bucks, which provides grocery-buying benefits for students to purchase nutritious foods during the summer. North Carolina is approaching 1 million kids who are benefitting from this new program in 2024! Help us make sure North Carolina’s SUN Bucks success story continues into 2025!

What is SUN Bucks?

SUN Bucks, sometimes referred to as Summer EBT or S-EBT, is an income-based program that provides food assistance benefits on debit-like cards to eligible children. SUN Bucks aims to promote physical and mental well-being by increasing access to nutritious foods and alleviating economic strain faced by families when school is out for the summer.

Benefits can be used to purchase groceries at retailers that accept EBT, including most major grocery stores, some online retailers like Amazon, and some farmers markets.    

Stay Tuned!

Visit www.ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks to learn more, including eligibility details, benefit amount, and frequently asked questions. Search NCDHHS on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) to stay connected with program announcements.

How May Educational Stakeholders Get Involved?

The 2024 SUN Bucks application closed August 31, 2024. Please discard all 2024 paper applications now.

Families can submit a 2025 SUN Bucks application by visiting www.ncdhhs.gov/sunbucksapplication. We encourage families to apply online, but 2025 paper applications can be requested by emailing [email protected]. 

Eligible students may receive their SUN Bucks card this summer at their mailing address on file at their school. Please encourage families to keep their mailing address on file at their school updated!

If a child is approved for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Free or Reduced-Price meals at their school, they may automatically qualify to receive SUN Bucks. Please direct families to the SUN Bucks School Search Tool to see if their school is an NSLP or Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school, as this may impact a child’s eligibility.

Helpful Resources

2025 SUN Bucks Paper Application and Instructions

Purpose: This is the paper application and instructions on how to fill out the application for the 2025 program year.

SIS Coordinators Flyer

Coming Soon!

Purpose: This informational flyer includes important information for Student Information Services (SIS) Coordinators, who play a critical role in pulling the necessary data to determine student eligibility for SUN Bucks.

Social Media Toolkit

Coming Soon!

Purpose: School stakeholders may utilize the social media stock images and content to share information about the SUN Bucks program on their Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter) pages.

SUN Bucks Flyer

Coming Soon!

Purpose: This flyer provides more information about the SUN Bucks program.

2024 Educational Stakeholder Webinar

Purpose: In March 2024, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) along with the Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) hosted a webinar for educational stakeholders (school nutrition teams, data managers, principals, and superintendents, etc.) to provide an overview of the new SUN Bucks.

Recording: 38 minutes