NC Public Schools
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 10:38 am

More than 850,000 North Carolina students rely on the nutritious meals and snacks served during the school year through the School Breakfast, School Lunch and Afterschool Snack Programs. When school is out, North Carolina SUN Programs provide nutritious meals at no cost for youth ages 18 and under.

Through SUN Meals Programs, youth 18 and under can enjoy meals onsite together at school and community sites. SUN Meals help youth get the nutrition they need all summer long and enjoy time with other kids and teens. In some rural areas, SUN Meals To-Go may be available for pick-up or delivery. Also called non-congregate meals, SUN Meals To-Go sponsors may provide multiple days of meals at a time to youth 18 and under during the summer break.

To find nearby summer meals at no-cost for kids and teens:

• Use the USDA Site Finder Map at https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder

• Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (English) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (Spanish).

• Check your local school district website, social media or other communications.

• Learn more at https://go.ncdpi.gov/ncsummermeals.

In addition to nutritious meals, NC SUN Meals Programs provide fitness and fun through educational enrichment. To learn about activities offered by SUN Meals Programs near you, search #NCSummerMeals on social media. Program operators are encouraged to take the NC Farm to Summer Challenge to serve local food as part of meals and snacks, teach about agriculture, nutrition and local food, share about #farmtosummer activities, and sign up to participate in the #NCCrunch for #FarmtoSchool Month. NC SUN Meals Programs, agencies, organizations, and families can all participate in the #NCFarmtoSummer Challenge. More resources are available on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's (NCDPI) Office of School Nutrition website.

NC SUN Meals Programs are administered by NCDPI, with federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). SUN Meals Programs are typically located in economically distressed areas to serve the most food-insecure, vulnerable students. Meal sites may be located at schools, public housing centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, medical centers, faith-based facilities, libraries, and other locations. Additional information regarding NC SUN Meals Programs may be found on the NCDPI Office of School Nutrition website. Citizens and organizations interested in getting involved as sites, activity providers or volunteers should contact a sponsor in their area or the NCDPI SUN Meals Team at summernutritionprogram@dpi.nc.gov.

SUN Bucks, a food assistance program administered by the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), is back this summer. Through SUN Bucks, sometimes referred to as Summer EBT, families will receive a one-time payment of $120 in grocery benefits on a debit-like card per eligible child to purchase nutritious foods at grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers. Most eligible children automatically qualify for the SUN Bucks program if they have been approved for free or reduced-price school meal benefits during the school year and no further action may be needed. For children who do not automatically qualify but may be eligible, NCDHHS will send an email, text message, or automated call to families with instructions on how to apply. The SUN Bucks application and instructions to apply are also available on the NCDHHS website. Applications must be submitted by August 15, 2026, to be processed for the 2026 summer period. To learn more, visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks.