BISMARCK – Families have until Aug. 30 to apply for help with the cost of food during the summer through the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program, also known as SUN Bucks, according to North Dakota Health and Human Services.

The new program provides eligible families a Summer EBT card with $120 of the SUN Bucks benefit per eligible child that can be used to buy groceries during the summer.

The Summer EBT program is being provided to qualifying North Dakotans through a partnership between HHS, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.

Children who attended a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and received free or reduced-priced meals during the school year were automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks. So far, 32,000 children have been automatically enrolled.

More children who were not automatically enrolled may still qualify and households are encouraged to apply for the benefit by contacting North Dakota Health and Human Services.