Nearly 90,000 Montgomery County students received grocery assistance through Maryland’s SUN Bucks program this summer, the second-highest total of any jurisdiction in the state.
According to the Maryland Department of Human Services, 89,750 students in Montgomery County received benefits through the program, behind only Prince George’s County, which had 116,262 recipients. Baltimore County ranked third with 86,635.
Statewide, SUN Bucks provided more than $72.2 million in grocery benefits to 602,582 students across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions as of September 30. Eligible children receive $40 for each of June, July and August, for a total of $120 per child.
The program is intended to help families purchase groceries during the summer when children do not have access to regular school meals. Most eligible students are automatically enrolled based on participation in programs such as free or reduced-price school meals, SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance or Medicaid.
SUN Bucks benefits remain available for 122 days after they are issued. Families with remaining benefits are encouraged to use them before they expire.
