Karina, a single working mother of three in Fresno, shops with SUN Bucks at a Fresno Save Mart store. Photo by Ben Hensley

The Central California Food Bank (CCFB) and The Save Mart Companies teamed up Friday morning to remind Valley residents that there is still time to sign up for the SUN Bucks program – a new food assistance program available in most parts of the country to help families with school-age children struggling with food insecurity.

SUN Bucks, a program created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, provides eligible families with $40 per child per month during the summer, a time when many families struggling with food insecurity have great difficulty maintaining healthy eating habits and putting food on the table.

The SUN Bucks program is designed to alleviate some of the stresses that come with not having meals available to children at school.

“So many students and their parents receive benefits during the school year,” said Jennifer Shelton, director of public and government affairs at Save Mart. “They get that support through breakfast and lunch at school, but in the summer they don’t have those prepaid meals.”

Eligible families can apply and receive full benefits from the SUN Bucks program until August 31. Approved families will receive the full amount of $120 for the summer months of June, July and August.

CCFB has been working with The Save Mart Companies for some time now and emphasizes the importance of local organizations partnering with local businesses to promote programs that support the hungry.

“The public-private partnership is what makes organizations like the Central California Food Bank successful,” said Natalie Caples, co-CEO of CCFB. “The ability to see a need in our community and feel that you have a corporate responsibility to step up and support that cause, but also to step up and be a role model for other local businesses or organizations that are also stepping up.”

On Friday, local media also had the opportunity to speak directly with a SUN Bucks program recipient and CalFresh, who reiterated the support of healthier options by CCFB and The Save Mart Companies, who emphasized the importance of healthy eating for growing children.

“It’s good to give them the vegetables, especially because I have a special needs son who has a sensitive palate,” said Karina, a single working mother of three. “The SUN Bucks program helps a lot because fruits and vegetables are very expensive.”

She added that having access to healthier alternatives helps both her family and others avoid more expensive and often less nutritious junk and fast foods.

Karina expressed her gratitude for the CalFresh and SUN Bucks program and encouraged all eligible people to enroll in the program.

“Don’t be afraid to sign up,” she said. “This program is really a big help, especially in difficult times.”

Families enrolled in CalFresh, CalWorks or MediCal are automatically enrolled in the program and do not need to take any further action.

Families interested in enrolling who are not also participating in the CalFresh, CalWorks or MediCal programs may apply Here until August 31st.