‘SUN Bucks’ could help feed more than 37,000 Wyoming children this summer

Jun 29, 2026 | 12:00 pm ET

By Calla Shosh

An immigrant mother originally from Guatemala purchases fresh fruits for her children with the balance left on her California EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card used for SNAP benefits, in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. Wyoming's SUN Bucks purchases are subject to the same rules as SNAP for grocery purchases within the program's 121-day summer timeline. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Photo courtesy of WyoFile

More than 37,000 kids across Wyoming will be automatically enrolled in a federally funded program to help ensure children get enough to eat in the summer.

Run through the Wyoming Department of Family Services, SUN Bucks provides school-aged children with grocery money over the summer months. Each eligible child receives $120 for groceries in the form of a preloaded debit card.

“SUN Bucks helps feed our rural children who are out of school for the summer and are missing school breakfast and school lunch,” Department of Family Services Director Korin Schmidt said in a news release. “This allows families to buy groceries when they are able so they can have food in the house for those missed meals.”

The Biden administration launched the program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2024. But Wyoming was one of 15 states to opt out of the SUN Bucks program. In 2025 and 2026, the Wyoming Legislature killed subsequent legislative attempts to join the program.

‘SUN Bucks’ could help feed more than 37,000 Wyoming children this summer — Gov. Mark Gordon on April 15, 2026 signed Executive Order 2026-06, which directs the Department of Family Services to create a Wyoming summer food assistance program. (Gov. Mark Gordon’s office)

In April, Gov. Mark Gordon signed Executive Order 2026-02 to implement the program. The executive order provided one-time funding and directed the Department of Family Services to develop a Wyoming SUN Bucks program.

“This is an essential program to give a little boost for children in our state who may not otherwise have access to healthy food. We want our children to thrive, because when our children are successful, so too are our communities,” Gordon said in a news release.

Most children who are eligible for SUN Bucks will be automatically enrolled in the program for 2026. The Department of Family Services has started to notify families by email or in the mail. Families who think they may be eligible, but are not automatically enrolled, can fill out a program application for SUN Bucks. The electronic benefit transfer cards will be mailed out in early July.

SUN Bucks purchases are subject to the same rules as SNAP food benefits. After receiving the cards, families will have 121 days to use them, after which any remaining funds will be removed.

“We are grateful to the governor for supporting this program, and we are excited to implement it,” Schmidt said.