MARQUETTE — Thousands of Upper Peninsula children ages 6-18 years and, indeed, many more below the Mackinac Bridge, will benefit from a state program this summer that provides direct benefits to families that can be used for food.

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, also known as SUN Bucks, is in force June, July and August, helping to ensure children have access to nutritious food while school is out, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services officials interviewed by The Mining Journal noted.

Funding for the program, which costs about $97 million per summer statewide, originates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. USDA must approve the expenditure annually. This will be the second year the program will be in effect.

“It’s mostly automatic,” said Dwayne Haywood, MDHHS senior deputy director for the Economic Stability Administration, said of the qualification process. “In 2024 … about 800,000 kids were enrolled.”

Of that number, 19,696 were from the U.P., costing $2.36 million.

Families that were, are or will be receiving SNAP (food benefits), TANF (cash assistance), or Medicaid anytime between (July 1, 2024-Aug. 31, 2025) are eligible. Additionally, persons who are categorically entitled (such as foster children, homeless, migrant or runaways) are also eligible. So are children who have been approved for free/reduced price meals with their school due to direct certification or an approved school meal application.

Recipients aren’t going to get rich on the program as just $40 per child per month is provided. Funding is being dispersed starting this month.

“The money is automatically (posted)” to Bridge cards, said MDHHS spokeswoman Erin Stover.

Benefits must be used within 122 days of issuance. Unused benefits will expire after this period and cannot be reinstated, officials said. SUN Bucks can be used at any store or farmer’s market that accepts EBT, including select online retailers.

Medicaid recipients’ income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. For more information on the SUN Bucks program, including detailed eligibility criteria and application instructions, please visit the MDHHS Summer EBT page at Summer EBT.

Bud Sargent can be reached at 906-228-2500. His email address is bsargent@miningjournal.net