Kamaji Ogino/Pexels
Millions of children in the U.S. rely on school breakfasts and lunches for a significant part of their nutrition. But what happens when school is not in session? Most states - whether led by Democrats or Republicans - are participating in the SUN Bucks program to help low-income kids get the food they need when school is not in session. However, 11 states have chosen not to participate in this state-federal partnership and one state (Tennessee) plans to abandon the program in 2025, leaving 9 million children behind. To help those children, The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has launched the No Hunger Summer campaign to advocate that no child should be left hungry.
According to Rick Wilson, AFSC U.S. Economic Justice director and longtime anti-hunger advocate, “For decades, US policymakers have recognized the importance of child nutrition for school-aged children, but the COVID pandemic reminded us that this problem doesn’t go away when schools are closed. This program is an important step towards ensuring the right of food for all.”
The SUN Bucks program will provide a benefit card worth $120 per summer for every child eligible for free or reduced school lunches. There are also economic benefits to the program. SUN Bucks could provide a $3.6 billion boost to local businesses, farmers, and economies from the EBT cards alone. In addition, the USDA estimates that every dollar of EBT benefits spent generates a multiplier effect of 1.54.
AFSC is calling on people in these States - Alaska, Utah, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming to urge decision makers in those states to implement the program by the summer of 2025 and make it permanent.
AFSC is a Quaker organization with over a century of experience working on food security. As part of the No Hunger Summer Campaign, AFSC is working with local Quakers in the affected states, as well as many allies, to let their governor know that kids have the food they need to thrive.
You can read more about the No Hunger Summer campaign here.
###
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) promotes a world free of violence, inequality, and oppression. Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light within each person, we nurture the seeds of change and the respect for human life to fundamentally transform our societies and institutions. We work with people and partners worldwide, of all faiths and backgrounds, to meet urgent community needs, challenge injustice, and build peace.