We are grateful that Missouri is one of 35 states that have elected to implement the Summer EBT (SuNBucks) program. The summer months can be financially challenging for Missouri families struggling to make ends meet. Food banks routinely experience an increase in demand from families whose children lose access to free or reduced-price school meals.
Missouri SuNBucks offers an effective intervention to prevent food insecurity among children during the summer. For many children in low-income households, the end of the school year marks the end of consistent and reliable meals and nutrients necessary for them to thrive. This abrupt disruption can lead to a decline in nutritional intake, which can cause physical and mental health problems and lead to poor educational performance when school begins again in the fall.
Missouri’s choice to support the Summer EBT is a wise investment in our community’s future, and the estimated 429,000 children in Missouri are eligible for the program.
Most eligible children will receive the benefit automatically without needing to apply. However, some households may need to submit an application and can do so online by August 31, 2024. Not sure if you qualify for automatic enrollment or need to apply? Families can use the Missouri SuN Bucks Eligibility Navigator to determine if an application is necessary.
We urge you to help raise awareness about the grocery benefits available through the Missouri SuN Bucks program. By informing eligible families about this program, we can collectively ensure that Missouri’s children have the nutrition they need to thrive.
For more information and to apply for the Missouri SuN Bucks program, visit mydss.mo.gov/SuNBucks.