Amid the celebration of National Farmers Market Week, a visit from Governor Josh Stein and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai to the Durham Farmers’ Market brought attention to a significant initiative, the SUN Bucks program. This program is a lifeline for over a million children in North Carolina, ensuring they have access to nutritious meals during the summer months.
For the first time, the state budget has allocated funds to sustain the SUN Bucks program through summer 2027. Historically, private philanthropies have filled the gap for the state’s share to leverage the federal program. This shift marks a critical investment in the well-being of North Carolina’s children.
Governor Josh Stein emphasized the significance of this initiative by 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.”
Secretary Dev Sangvai added, “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 support for SUN Bucks extends beyond the state government. Damon Circosta, Executive Director of the AJ Fletcher Foundation, expressed, “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.”
Governor Stein recently signed into law North Carolina’s first full state budget in over two years. The budget fully funds the SUN Bucks program for the summer of 2027. Under this program, every dollar invested by the state brings in $25 from the federal government, amounting to about $125 million for families with children each summer.
Earlier this year, due to the absence of a state budget, Governor Stein announced funding for SUN Bucks in 2026 through a public-private partnership. This collaboration involved the USDA, NCDHHS, and several 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 North Carolina families with a one-time payment of $120 per child to purchase nutritious food at participating retailers and farmers markets using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. This program is one of three NC Summer Nutrition (SUN) Programs for Kids, aimed at alleviating food insecurity, which affects one in five children in the state.
To determine eligibility for SUN Bucks, families can take the interactive eligibility quiz here. Additionally, household income eligibility can be checked here.
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