NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — Families have until August 30 to apply for help with the cost of food during the summer.

According to the North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS), families can get help through the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program, otherwise known as SUN Bucks.

The new program provides families with a Summer EBT card with $120 of the SUN Bucks benefit per child that can used for summer groceries. However, this is only for eligible families and children.

“We are thrilled to support our students and their families with the SUN Bucks program,” said ND School Superintendent Kirsten Baesaler. “This initiative ensures that our children have access to nutritious meals all summer long, empowering them to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.”

A partnership between HHS, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service is running the Summer EBT program.

“Nutrition is an important component in advancing strong, stable, healthy North Dakota families,” said HHS Commissioner Wayne Salter. “We are excited to be a part of this program that makes healthy food more accessible to those in need.”

Kids who go to a school that takes part in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and get free or reduced-priced meals are automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks — meaning that 32,000 kids are already part of the program. Kids who were not automatically enrolled can still qualify, and families are encouraged to apply.

Some reasons kids may not have been enrolled automatically could be that their family did not finish the application for free or reduced-priced meals, or that the kid attended a school that already provides free meals.

If you’re interested in applying, you can do that at this website .

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