Coosa families, others eligible for Alabama SUN Bucks
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
With summer break quickly approaching, the Coosa County School System wants to help get the word out to local families about a program that can help many families buy food while school is out for the summer.
While students are out of school for summer break and no longer getting meals at school each day, the Alabama SUN Bucks grocery benefits program can help fill in the gap. The program aims to help families buy food when schools are closed.
Families who are eligible receive a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible school-age child. Additionally, children who are eligible for and receive these benefits can still participate in other summer meal programs.
Children are eligible for Alabama SUN Bucks if they were school age and attended a school during the 2024-2025 school year with the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and the family’s household meets the free or reduced-price school meals income guidelines; or if the children were school age and attended a school during the 2024-2025 school year with the NSLP or SBP and the household received benefits through SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, foster care, homeless, migrant, runaway, and Head Start; or children who did not attend a NSLP or SBP school during the 2024-2025 school year but are of compulsory school age (6-17) and receives SNAP or TANF benefits, with this option including private, virtual and home-school students.
For those who qualify, Alabama SUN Bucks benefits are loaded onto an EBT card and mailed to the family’s home. The benefits can be used to buy food such as fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains, and dairy products at grocery stores, farmers’ markets and other places that accept SNAP EBT benefits.
With a focus on healthy and nutritious food, the program is described as a “convenient way to help children get the nutrition they need when schools are closed.”
While many families will get Alabama SUN Bucks automatically if they receive other benefits, some families may need to apply.
Families do not need to fill out an application if their household already participates in SNAP, TANF and other such programs. Those children will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks, and the family will receive a new card in the mail.
If a family is not automatically enrolled and believes its children are eligible, then the family can apply for Alabama SUN Bucks. To apply for the benefits program, visit www.alabama-sunbucks.com.
Those applying will need to provide their child’s name, school, date of birth, address, and further details, as well as report their household income.
Those who are eligible for the program, but have a new address, are asked to log into the Parent Portal or call 1-800-443-3536 to update their address so that the benefits card will be sent to the correct household address.
Alabama SUN Bucks is a program in partnership with the Alabama State Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Department of Education.
For more information about the program, visit www.alabama-sunbucks.com or contact support@alabama-sunbucks.com or 1-800-443-3536.
