Summer Food Support for Maine Families: SUN Bucks & SUN Meals
When school wraps up for the summer, keeping your kids fed with healthy, nutritious food shouldn't be a source of stress. To help offset rising grocery and household costs, Maine has brought back two great programs for Summer 2026: SUN Bucks and SUN Meals.
Here is everything you need to know about what these programs are, how your family qualifies, and how to use them.
1. SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)
SUN Bucks provides a one-time $120 food benefit per school-aged child to help you buy groceries during the summer months.
Where to use it: Anywhere SNAP EBT is accepted, including local grocery stores and farmers markets. You can buy fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and whole grains.
When it arrives: Benefits are hitting EBT cards during the first week of June 2026.
Do I need to apply?
Most families do not need to apply. Over 99% of eligible children are enrolled automatically. You will automatically receive SUN Bucks if your child attends a school that serves National School Lunch Program meals and your family participates in any of these programs:
SNAP
TANF
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
MaineCare (with a household income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level)
Families experiencing homelessness or participating in migrant education programs
Missed the automatic rollout? If you didn't receive your benefits in early June but believe you qualify, you can apply online through My Maine Connection or by mail. The application deadline is August 15, 2026.
