CHULA VISTA, Calif. — It could be a long summer, leaving many kids hungry around San Diego County. When they are out of school, they don't have access to meals at school. For some, that can mean no meals at all.
A new federal program aims to help students' families during the summer months. It’s called SUN Bucks and it will put $120 in the pockets of families with students who qualify.
“Prices are crazy and everything has gone up and jobs are kind of like low right now and the paychecks are low, so this is a big help,” said Vrenda Tellez, a mother of twins in 3rd grade at Hawking Charter Elementary School. “Especially with them, they don’t know the word ‘no,’ so they need to have food available, and this is a big, big help for us.”
Families with school-aged children who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year, or who get CalFresh, CalWORKS, or Medi-Cal, are automatically enrolled.
“With the cost of food right now, I think it’s going to be very, very different for parents,” said Alondra Alvarado, President and CEO of the San Diego Hunger Coalition, at a press conference in Chula Vista Friday. “SUN Bucks can be used in farmer’s markets, they can be used at your grocery store. Families receive this money in a debit card form so they can go to their favorite store and buy culturally appropriate foods for the family.”
SUN Bucks cards will be mailed directly to eligible households with a one-time lump sum of $120 per child for the summer months.
“During the school year, we provide food, breakfast and lunch. During the summertime, students are not having this, so this is a good to compensate for that,” said Dr. Eduardo Reyes, Superintendent of the Chula Vista Elementary School District.
“Everything’s going up, rent, lights, food, gas, and so this allows families to be able to buy food," said Dr. Reyes. "They have coupons, they’re called Sun Bucks, they’re able to buy some food, have a healthy choice for students, and save income.”
If your child wasn’t automatically enrolled, they may still be eligible. To check, ask your child’s school for a school meal application or alternative income form. When you fill it out, they can determine whether your child is eligible for SUN Bucks.
“It’s going to be summer and they’re going to be asking for a lot of ice creams, and even that is expensive right now, so it’s going to help a lot,” said Tellez.
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