Summer is right around the corner, which means Summer EBT will be in operation for its third year. Summer EBT, also known as Sun Bucks, is a program that provides $120 in grocery money to eligible kids during the summer months when school is out and school meals stop. To help get the word out about Summer EBT, and promote and advocate for this new program, No Kid Hungry is launching its first ever Summer EBT Champion Network. The Champion Network is made up of 10 school and district stakeholders across the nation dedicated to championing Summer EBT, and helping schools get the information they need to support families in accessing this program.
While Summer EBT is a federal program and administered by state agencies, No Kid Hungry research has shown that families consider schools to be the most trusted messengers in regards to getting information about Summer EBT. Therefore, it’s critical to support schools in understanding how Summer EBT works, how families can apply if they need to (most eligible families are automatically enrolled), and to empower schools to promote this valuable program.
When summer break starts, millions of children and teens who participate in free or reduced-price school meals lose access to these nutritious and reliable meals. Summer EBT is one way to help support families, but it works hand-in-hand with other summer nutrition programs. Summer Meals, also known as SUN Meals, provides free meals to kids 18 and under at various sites like libraries and parks throughout the summer months. Non-congregate summer meals, also known as SUN Meals To-Go, allows families in rural communities to pick-up their summer meals and some sites even allow families to pick-up multiple meals for their kids at one time. Together, these programs offer families multiple options to provide healthy meals for their kids when school is out.
Summer EBT, launched in 2024, is still new to many schools and families. There is a real opportunity to educate schools about the program, share communication and outreach best practices as it relates to families, and gain buy-in as one of the wrap-around summer supports for families. The Summer EBT Champion Network was formed to meet that need.
The Champions are a diverse mix of school and district stakeholders that span eight states and work in school nutrition, district business operations, pupil personnel, wrap-around school supports, and education. Each champion brings a unique perspective and a unique touchpoint to families. Together, they will be sharing information about Summer EBT and speaking to the value of the program via conferences, newsletters, direct connections to schools and districts, sharing outreach and communication materials, and providing real-time feedback to state agencies. While that is not an exhaustive list, we expect the champion impact to be vast, and we can’t wait for Summer to start!
Meet our champions and hear from them on why they are passionate about Summer EBT:
Susie Ballot, K12 Culture Teacher, Circle of Life Academy, White Earth, MN
“I'm a grandmother of 15 grandchildren. I love my job as a k-12 culture, language, & history teacher. I want people to know what a struggle it is to access Summer School lunches because of the distances people would have to drive one way (40 minutes!). So being able to get Summer EBT is easier for families to shop at their own leisure.”
Lauren Connors, LMFT, FRC, Family Resource Coordinator, Fayette County Public Schools, Lexington, KY
“Summer EBT is important to me because access to food is not something all of our students have. When summer EBT is available more families have food resources that can provide fresh foods for their families. This helps increase nutrition, brain function and physical wellness. I am so thankful to be able to help families have more access to food for their families.”
Kris Curtis, Food Service Director, Kelloggsville Public Schools, Wyoming, Michigan
“I have been working in child nutrition for over 20 years, and I am passionate about making sure children have access to nutritious meals all year long, not just during the school year. Working with families, I see firsthand how important programs like Summer EBT are in bridging the gap when school is out. I am especially committed to reaching immigrant families who may feel uncertain or concerned about accessing benefits from a government agency, so they understand the facts, feel safe asking questions, and know this support is meant to help their children thrive. In Michigan we have Double Up Food Bucks and I think it is also important to make sure families know how to stretch their Sun bucks farther and get the most out of their benefits. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be expensive and what an easy way to double what you are getting with Double Up Food Bucks.”
Edgar Manalo, Business Services Director - Procurement, Contracts, Warehouse, & Food Services, Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Fullerton, California
“Summer EBT is an important tool in ensuring students continue to have access to nutrition beyond the school year. Through my role in Business and Food Services, I help bridge the gap between program design and district operations, supporting the implementation of complex initiatives across federal, state, and local levels. I’m honored to contribute this perspective so other districts can better navigate and deliver these programs for their communities.”
Caitlin Lazarski, Director of School Nutrition, Pine Bush Central School District, Pine Bush, NY
"Summer EBT is a vital safety net for children in our community. Throughout the school year, we are proud to provide all students with nutritious breakfasts and lunches at no cost. When school is out, Summer EBT helps families bridge the gap, ensuring children continue to have access to the food they need to grow and thrive."
Casey Partain, Child Nutrition Program Director, Marshall County School System, Guntersville, Alabama
"As a school nutrition director and registered dietitian, feeding children doesn’t stop when the school year ends. Summer EBT is important to me because it helps families continue providing healthy meals for their children when school cafeterias are closed. It complements the work we do during the school year by helping reduce the gap in food access over the summer. I want more families to know that Summer EBT is there to support them and help keep kids nourished all year long."
Allen Poynter, Director of Pupil Personnel, Hart County Schools, Munfordville, KY
“With 32 years in public education, I see firsthand how access to nutrition directly impacts a child's ability to learn, grow and thrive. Summer EBT is important to me because it helps ensure that when school is out, our children still have the food they need to stay healthy and ready to return to the classroom. As a Summer EBT Champion, my hope is to help educate families in our community so that EVERY eligible child receives the support they deserve.”
Kat Soltanmorad, Director, Food Services, Tahoe Truckee USD, Truckee, California
"As a school food services director and nutrition educator with 24 years of experience, I see Summer EBT as a critical tool in the fight against food insecurity, which impacts 1 in 5 children nationwide—a rate that spikes as high as 50% in some rural communities. At no greater time has this support been more essential. Schools are the heart of the solution; by leveraging existing enrollment data, they act as the vital bridge to deliver benefits directly to the families who need them most. I am deeply committed to educating the public on how SEBT, combined with non-congregate rural free summer meals, forms a comprehensive safety net that keeps our children healthy and ready to learn."
Stephanie Walker Hynes, Director Of Child Nutrition, Little Rock School District, Little Rock, AR
“As Director of Child Nutrition for the Little Rock School District, I know that hunger doesn’t take a summer break. Summer EBT is a critical lifeline for families, ensuring children continue to have access to nutritious food when school is out. I am committed to driving awareness, increasing participation, and advocating for solutions that eliminate childhood hunger in our community and in Arkansas.”
Stephanie Young, Food Service Director, Beaver Dam Unified School District, Beaver Dam, WI
“Summer EBT is so important for families to utilize. Getting the money to families for food to purchase for our children in the community during the summer months when schools aren’t in session is so essential. Anything we can do to get kids access to nutritious meals is our goal!”