How much money and how much is it worth? 2 months ago. In March, we served more people than ever before in our organization’s 48-year history. With hunger in Sacramento County reaching an all-time high, the California Department of Social Services is looking to help feed an estimated 5 million children this summer through the Sandbox program. For $40 per month, the card will arrive automatically in your mailbox. If you are enrolled in the CALWORKS CALFRESH or MEDI-CAL program, your family will receive $40 per eligible child toward grocery purchases in June, July, and August. This includes online stores like Amazon and Walmart and does not include hot foods, pet food, medicines, cleaning supplies, or household items. Some books are arriving more than a year after pandemic-related relief ended, and there is an increased demand from the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. Last year, the CALFRESH emergency allocation ended, which was the additional benefit CALFRESH program participants were receiving during COVID-19.During the pandemic, when those benefits ended and people’s benefits were reduced to normal levels, we really saw an increase in the lines for food bank cards. The food bank cards are sent out alphabetically, so it may take a little while for some families to receive them, but they have 122 days to use those funds. After that, they expire. In Sacramento, Marisela de la Cruz KCRA THREE News and assistance also applies to children living in FOS
A new EBT food program is coming to California this summer. Who is eligible?
Updated: May 30, 2024 11:02 PM PDT
Nearly 5 million children in California will receive assistance as the California Department of Social Services launches its new summer school meal program. Families will receive their California SUN Bucks for June, July and August via EBT cards in the coming days. The cards will accumulate $40 each month, totaling $120 per child at the end of the program. Who is eligible for SUN Bucks? Children ages 6-18 who already qualify for free or reduced meals through the School Lunch Application or Replacement Income Form, or who already receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal benefits. These children will be automatically enrolled. Children ages 0-22 who attend schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program are eligible. Children who attend Head Start, are experiencing homelessness, live in foster care, and are part of immigrant families are also eligible. Where can I use SUN Bucks? EBT cards can be used at most grocery stores, farmers markets, and other authorized retailers, including online stores such as Amazon and Walmart. SUN Bucks cannot be used for: Hot food Hygiene supplies Medicine Cleaning supplies Household items Pet food This assistance comes amid increased demand from the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services as hunger in Sacramento County is at an all-time high and more than a year has passed since pandemic-related relief ended. “In March, we provided assistance to more people than ever before in the 48-year history of our organization,” said Kevin Buffalino, public relations director for Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. Last month, the agency provided assistance to more than 315,000 people. When will I receive my SUN Bucks EBT card? EBT cards are sent in alphabetical order by the child’s last name, so it may take some families longer to receive them, but they have 122 days to use the funds. Any unused money on the card after 122 days will expire and cannot be exchanged or put back on the card. The first round of EBT cards will be mailed in mid-June to children with last names A – D. Families whose children’s last names begin with the letters E – L will begin receiving the cards in July, while those whose children’s last names begin with the letters M – Z will receive their cards by August. Families can also apply for the program by August 31. SUN Bucks was created after the Consolidated Appropriations Act was passed in December 2022. California passed legislation to participate in the federal program in July 2023. For more information about the program, click here.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The California Department of Social Services is launching a new summer food program to help about 5 million children in California.
Families will receive their California SUN Bucks for June, July and August via EBT card in the coming days. The card will accumulate $40 per month, totaling $120 per child at the end of the program.
Who is eligible for SUN Bucks?
Children ages 6-18 who already qualify for free or reduced meals through the School Meal Application or Replacement Income Form, or who already receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal benefits. These children will be automatically enrolled.
It is open to children aged 0-22 who attend schools participating in the National School Lunch Programme or the School Breakfast Programme.
This includes children who attend Head Start, people experiencing homelessness, children living in foster care and children from immigrant families.
Where can I use my SUN Bucks?
EBT cards can be used at most grocery stores, farmers markets and other authorized retailers, including online stores like Amazon and Walmart.
SUN Bucks cannot be used at:
Hot food Hygiene products Medicines Cleaning products Household goods Pet food
The aid comes as hunger in Sacramento County is at an all-time high and more than a year after pandemic-related relief ended, leading to increased demand from the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.
“In the month of March, we provided assistance to more people than at any time in our 48-year history,” said Kevin Buffalino, communications director for Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.
Last month, the agency distributed relief supplies to a whopping 315,000 people.
When will I receive my SUN Bucks EBT card?
Because EBT cards are sent in alphabetical order by the child’s last name, it may take some families longer to receive them, but they still have 122 days to use the funds. After 122 days, any unused funds on the card will expire and cannot be exchanged or returned to the card.
The first wave of EBT cards will be mailed in mid-June to children with surnames A through D. In July, families whose children’s surnames begin with the letters E through L will start receiving cards, and those whose children’s surnames begin with the letters M through Z will receive their cards by August. Families can also apply for the program by Aug. 31.
SUN Bucks were created following passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act in December 2022. California passed legislation in July 2023 to participate in the federal program.
For more information on the program, click here.
