North Carolina Seeks Funding to Sustain Summer Food Aid for Children
With the school year ending, many children face the risk of hunger as they lose access to school meals. In response, North Carolina’s SUN Bucks program has become a crucial support by providing nearly $121 million to feed over a million children during the summer months. However, the program’s future hinges on securing state funding.
Gov. Josh Stein is advocating for a $5 million recurring fund from the General Assembly to maintain the program, which began in 2024. The SUN Bucks initiative offers low-income families cards with $120 for purchasing food when school is out. Stein, emphasizing the program’s importance, stated, “Hunger does not go on vacation when school lets out.”
To continue accessing a $125 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina must provide matching funds. Previously, these funds were sourced from philanthropic contributions. This year, delays in the state budget have complicated funding efforts.
Collaborations with entities like the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina, the Duke Endowment, and Coca-Cola Consolidated have been pivotal. Colleen Briggs, president of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, highlighted the long-term health implications of food insecurity, noting its impact on chronic conditions and healthcare costs.
Stein urges recurring budget allocations for SUN Bucks to prevent yearly uncertainties. “The state shouldn’t have to scramble each year to make sure that our children are not hungry in the summertime,” he said, calling for legislative action to secure funding through 2027 and beyond.
Inquiries to Senate President Pro Tempore and House Speaker Destin Hall about their support for recurring funds went unanswered. Meanwhile, lawmakers have indicated that the passage of a new state budget may not occur until April, according to WUNC.
For more information on the SUN Bucks program, visit the SUN Bucks website.
