DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — School is out for Maine students, and while a lot of families will take advantage of the warm weather and time off for vacation, it also means some kids can't take advantage of free school meals.
Many districts have long-established summer food programs, where eligible students can receive free meals during the summer.
Now, the USDA-backed SUN Bucks grocery benefit program will give Mainers another option to help provide nutritional meals when kids are out of school.
Eligible families can receive $120 for each of their school-aged children and those benefits can be used to buy foods like cereal, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and more at many grocery stores, farmers' markets, and other places that accept EBT or SNAP benefits, according to the program's website.
Federal officials and leaders with the Maine Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services held a program kick-off party Monday in Dover-Foxcroft.
"If it weren’t for the collaboration that we’ve had, none of this could have happened," Michael Downs, the senior program manager for SNAP within the Mane Office for Family Independence, said.
Downs said the SUN Bucks program is meant to supplement other free meal initiatives, like Hot Lunch Summer, which allows families to pick up meals at more than 400 locations around the state.
"And that’s the key, meeting people where they are and getting them healthy foods in a way that is beneficial to them," Downs added.
Heather Witten is the food service director for RSU 68 in Dover-Foxcroft and said Monday's event was also a way to remind families in the school district that breakfast and lunch are available for students five days a week.
Jane McLucas, the director of child nutrition for the DOE, said it's important to remind Mainers about these programs and she encouraged parents to check in with their local district to see what programs are offered closest to them.
If you are already enrolled in benefits like SNAP, your children will automatically be enrolled in SUN Bucks, according to the USDA. You may also be automatically enrolled if your household income meets the requirement for free or reduced-price school meals.
You can check your eligibility status or apply to the program here.
Sakeenah Shabazz is the senior policy advisor for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. She and other federal officials are spending time in states where the program will launch this summer, like Maine.
"It’s also an opportunity for us to hear in real-time how the programs are going, how children are responding, how families are responding," Shabazz said. "We also want to pay attention to the quality of meals being served and how are schools managing that process."
Shabazz added that SUN Bucks is another tool in the toolbox in the effort to combat childhood hunger and food insecurity.
The Maine DOE will host another program kick-off event in Kittery on Friday.