MISSOURI, USA — Students across Missouri are clearing out from classrooms as summer vacation begins, but many will face hunger at home without access to school lunches.
Nearly one in five Missouri children face food insecurity, totaling around 255,000, according to the non-profit food bank network Feeding America. The state also has a $668 million annual food budget shortfall, or the amount of money food-insecure individuals report needing to purchase enough food.
A federal program called "SUN Bucks" hopes to help alleviate child hunger by offering families a one-time $120 benefit per qualifying child loaded onto an EBT card.
Missouri's "SuN Bucks" program, the state's version of the federal program, looked to do the same but is awaiting approval, according to Missouri's Department of Social Services (DSS). 32 states have already approved the program, but Missouri is one of six states where the program is still awaiting approval, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
5 On Your Side reached out to DSS for clarification on the program's approval timeline, but has not received a response as of this article's publication.
If the program is approved, the one-time $120 benefit per child will automatically be issued to numerous Missourians, including:
- Households participating in SNAP or Temporary Assistance
- School-aged children in foster care, who are homeless, or who are migrants
- Children who attend schools that offer the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program and are part of households that meet the requirements for Free or Reduced Price Meals
Others interested in learning whether their child may be eligible can use DSS's Eligibility Navigator. Click here to use it.
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