In celebration of National Farmers Market Week, Governor Josh Stein and Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai made a significant visit to the Durham Farmers’ Market. Their mission was to bring attention to the SUN Bucks program, a vital initiative providing nutritious meals to over a million children in North Carolina during the summer months. This year, a milestone was achieved as state funding was allocated for the 2027 summer, marking a departure from reliance on private philanthropy to meet federal funding requirements.
Governor Josh Stein emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Every child in North Carolina should have access to nutritious food, no matter the time of year. I’m proud that our state budget funds SUN Bucks next summer and puts food on the table for more than one million kids across North Carolina. This is a critical investment in our children and families, and it helps us continue building a stronger, healthier North Carolina for all.”
Adding to this sentiment, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai remarked, “Access to nutritious food is key to a child’s health and well-being. SUN Bucks gives families resources to provide healthy meals for their children when school meals are not available during the summer. We are proud to work alongside our federal, state, and philanthropic partners to reach more than one million children and help ensure North Carolina families have the support they need.”
The significance of the SUN Bucks program was also underscored by Damon Circosta, Executive Director of the AJ Fletcher Foundation, who stated, “We are proud to support SUN Bucks because every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy and ready to succeed. SUN Bucks strengthens children, families, and communities across North Carolina.”
North Carolina’s budget, recently signed into law by Governor Stein, fully supports SUN Bucks for 2027. The program offers a substantial 25:1 return on investment as the state garners $25 from federal resources for every dollar invested. This translates to an infusion of approximately $125 million into the local economy, benefiting families with children.
Earlier this year, Governor Stein announced that for 2026, SUN Bucks would be financed through a collaborative public-private partnership due to the absence of a state budget in the previous year. This partnership included the USDA, NCDHHS, and the NC Department of Public Instruction, with support from various organizations such as:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
- The Duke Endowment
- Coca-Cola Consolidated
- Dogwood Health Trust
- Bryson Foundation
- New Hanover Community Endowment
- AJ Fletcher Foundation
- Brighthouse Financial
The SUN Bucks initiative provides eligible families with a one-time payment of $120 per child. This can be used to buy nutritious food at various retailers and farmers markets accepting EBT cards, including most major grocery stores in the state. As one of the three NC Summer Nutrition (SUN) Programs for Kids, it plays a crucial role in reducing food insecurity, which affects one in five children in North Carolina.
Families interested in determining eligibility for SUN Bucks can take the interactive eligibility quiz here. For more information on income eligibility, families can check here.
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