Summer has arrived and it comes bearing great news! If you and your family are looking for ways to stretch your food budget, you will be glad to know that there are multiple options available, especially if you already receive SNAP benefits in North Carolina.

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and is more commonly known as food stamps. The eligibility for SNAP and some of these summer nutrition programs revolves around a household’s total monthly income.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements or to apply for SNAP, you can contact the More In My Basket team. They assist North Carolinians for free over the phone by answering questions, conducting eligibility screenings and completing SNAP applications. You can contact them by visiting their website at morefood.org or calling their toll-free numbers at 1-855-240-1451 (English) and 1-888-382-7105 (Spanish).

SNAP is a year-round program, but the following list contains summer-specific programs that can help stretch your food budget during this time of year.

SUN Bucks

Sun Bucks is a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides a one-time grocery-buying benefit of $120 per eligible child. Children may qualify automatically if they attend an NSLP-participating school and receive free or reduced-price meals, or if they participate in certain assistance programs such as FNS, Medicaid with qualifying income, or foster care.

Families receive a debit-like card that can be used to buy nutritious food during the summer months when schools are out.

If your family receives SNAP benefits, WorkFirst or TANF assistance, your children are automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks. Children in foster care or the McKinney-Vento program are also automatically enrolled. Households can apply if their children attend an NSLP or Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school and have a household income of less than 185% of the federal poverty level.

To check if your child's school was an NSLP or CEP school for the most recent school year, visit the SUN Bucks School Search Tool at www.ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks-schoolsearch. It is also important to note that your US citizenship or immigration status does not affect your eligibility for SUN Bucks. To apply for SUN Bucks, you will need your student’s ID number (this will be on their report card, or you can call the school), the name of your child’s school, and your household’s income information. You can apply for SUN Bucks online.

If your child is enrolled in an NSLP (National School Lunch Program) school for the 2025-26 school year, and meets one of the following criteria, they will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks:

• If your child’s date of birth is between July 2, 2007 to August 31, 2018, and they participate in at least one of the programs below, you do not need to submit an application as they are automatically eligible to receive SUN Bucks:
  • SNAP (food stamps), or
  • Work First (cash assistance), or
  • Medicaid and has a household income of less than 185% of the federal poverty level, or
  • Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program (CTFDP), or
  • Child is in Foster Care, or
  • Child is enrolled in the McKinney-Vento program (experiencing homelessness or runaway)
• Your child received SUN Bucks in the summer of 2024.  You do not need to complete another application for summer 2025, so long as the child is still enrolled in a NSLP/CEP school.
• Your child gets Free or Reduced-Price meals at an NSLP school.

To find out if you child’s school is considered a NSLP or CEP school, visit Sunbucks School Search.  All public schools in Orange County are NSLP or CEP.  Eno River Academy, The Expedition School, and UNC Hospital School are not eligible.

SUN Meals
This program allows children aged 18 and under to eat meals and snacks during summer months at no cost. Schools are not the only location available for SUN Meals, you can also find them at parks and neighborhoods.

SUN Meals are also available as “SUN Meals To-Go” in some rural communities and do not require an application. To find meal locations in North Carolina, visit the Site Finder or call 984-236-2910.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP): The NC SFMNP provides eligible lower-income older adults with coupons to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at their local farmers markets. The program is designed to improve the nutrition of older adults and increase business for local farmers. Older adults must meet three requirements:

1. 60 years of age or older
2. Live in a participating county
3. Household income of no more than 185% of the current Federal Poverty Level

This program may not be available in all counties. If you are interested in receiving assistance from SFMNP, please contact your local Senior Center or aging services agency to apply.

If the SFMNP is NOT currently available in your county, you can complete the SFMNP interest form. The North Carolina Department of Health (NCDHHS) and Human Services will use this information for program planning.

For more information, visit Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program or email NCSFMNP@dhhs.nc.gov.

Youth Summer Feeding Programs
Summer can be a challenging time for many youth and families when children may not have consistent access to healthy meals like they usually would during the school day. The following resources are available for children this summer in Orange County. Visit this page in the future as we may add more as they become available.  Visit Youth Summer Feeding Programs to learn more about available support programs specifically for youth in Orange County this summer.

Other Resources
If you would like to learn more about other local resources, contact NC 211. This is a free and confidential referral service provided by United Way. When families and individuals reach out to NC 211, all they need to do is inform where they live to receive a list of available local resources.

You can contact them by calling 2-1-1 or by accessing their website.

Lastly, don't forget about the Orange County Food Resource List available at go.ncsu.edu/feedorangecounty.  This is a comprehensive list of food pantries and distributions across the County that is updated regularly.   Now available in English and Spanish.

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Sources:Sunbucks School Search

Sunbucks

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

USDA.gov/sunmeals