Summer Food Service Programs: What to Know & How to Enroll Your Child

Just because free school meals are on break doesn’t mean your child has to miss out on healthy, delicious food. There are two amazing programs in Massachusetts that make sure kids stay full and fueled all summer — SUN Bucks and Summer Eats — and they’re totally free.

Let’s break down some common questions about the programs that your family can use to have a stress-free summer:

SUN Bucks is a federally funded summer program that gives families money to buy groceries — just like school meals, but at home. Each eligible child receives benefits on an EBT card (like a debit card) that can be used at grocery stores, farmers markets, and retailers that accept SNAP.

Fast Fact: In 2024, over 484,000 students received SUN Bucks in Massachusetts, helping families buy over $9 million worth of groceries!

Summer Eats is all about free meals in fun, community spaces. Kids and teens ages 0 to 18 can walk up to a Summer Eats site and grab a free breakfast, lunch, or snack — no sign-up, no ID, no questions asked.

In July 2024, kids in MA enjoyed 2.1 million meals at over 1,400 sites across the state — that’s about 70,000 kids every day!

SUN Bucks: If your family is enrolled in SNAP or your student is enrolled in the National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program you’re most likely already enrolled and will automatically receive your benefits.
 

• If you believe you are eligible but do not receive SUN Bucks benefits (issued in July), or if you  would like to know if you could be eligible for SNAP and get help applying, you can call Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline, or you can chat with a counselor online by using the Live Chat feature at the bottom right corner of this page.
   

Summer Eats: Every kid 18 and under is welcome — no application, I.D., or sign-up needed! Use the Summer Meal Finder Map to find a Summer Eats site near you, and just drop in!

SUN Bucks: Use the card to buy groceries your kids love — fruits, veggies, proteins, grains — all the good stuff that keeps them energized. But be aware, SUN Bucks benefits do expire if they are not used. Families have 122 days (about 4 months) from the date the money is deposited on their card to use their SUN Bucks benefits. Benefits not used within 122 days will be removed from the card.

Summer Eats: Menus vary by location, but expect fun and tasty options like breakfast parfaits with fresh berries, burgers, sandwiches and hot dogs with locally sourced corn on the cob. It’s like an every-day barbecue, and every kid’s invited!

These programs don’t just help families — they help entire communities.

SUN Bucks helps families stretch their budgets without cutting corners on nutrition. It also gives a boost to local food retailers and farmers.

Summer Eats keeps kids healthy and active, while also creating summer jobs for the same food service staff who care for our kids during the school year.

Summer should be about fun, not food stress. With SUN Bucks and Summer Eats, Massachusetts families have real solutions to keep kids happy, healthy, and full — all season long.