August 26, 2026
Governor Moore Featured in New Ad Campaign Urging SUN Bucks Families to Use Their Benefits Before They Expire
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Moore and the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced a new ad campaign encouraging families to utilize their Maryland SUN Bucks benefits before they expire.
Last summer, Maryland set a historic precedent by distributing $75 million in direct benefits to feed more than 630,000 students — the largest investment in combating childhood hunger during the summer months in state history. SUN Bucks achieved a 78% redemption rate. This year, DHS is launching a dedicated effort to close the program’s participation gap and reach eligible households with unspent SUN Bucks benefits.
“Last year, we made the largest investment to fight childhood hunger, and this year we are building on that success by ensuring all families are taking full advantage of their SUN Bucks,” said Gov. Moore. “This program is a critical lifeline in tackling childhood poverty by providing meals to students in the summertime, but we are committed to continuing to fight against childhood hunger so that every child has access to nutrition year-round.”
Building on the launch of the 2026 SUN Bucks program earlier this summer, DHS is expanding outreach efforts through its “Use It or Lose It” ad campaign across Meta platforms to ensure every eligible family redeems the $120 in nutritional assistance available for each child. SUN Bucks customers have 122 days from the date of issuance to redeem their benefits before they expire, meaning funds issued throughout the summer remain available to purchase healthy groceries well after the school year begins.
“Hundreds of thousands of Maryland students rely on SUN Bucks for nutritious meals through the summer months,” said Acting DHS Secretary Stacy L. Rodgers. “When these benefits are left unspent, our children may miss out on their next meal, and we miss out on an opportunity to support our local economy. Our message to families is simple: Check your account and spend your SUN Bucks benefits today.”
This campaign is part of the Moore-Miller administration’s broader strategy to combat food insecurity and remove barriers to essential benefits. This week, DHS also launched a targeted ad campaign encouraging customers to activate their new, fraud-resistant EBT cards after Maryland became the fourth state in the country to adopt Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) chip-and-tap technology.
Earlier this summer, Gov. Wes Moore toured food distribution sites in Charles County as part of his “Delivering for Maryland” tour and participated in a roundtable with SUN Bucks families to highlight the importance of the program in closing the summer nutrition gap.
For the vast majority of Maryland families, accessing SUN Bucks requires zero paperwork. The state automatically enrolls students who qualify through existing programs, delivering benefits directly to them.
Students whose families receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) will see an additional $40 per student added directly to their existing EBT cards each month from June to August (totaling $120 per student). Students qualifying through some Medicaid plans, the Free and Reduced-Price School Meals program, or out-of-home care are also automatically enrolled.
For more information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit dhs.maryland.gov/sunbucks.
About the Maryland Department of Human Services:
The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) is the state’s primary social services provider, serving more than one million Marylanders annually. Through its programs — including food assistance, cash support, child welfare, and energy assistance — DHS works to strengthen Maryland’s families and communities. Marylanders are encouraged to visit MarylandBenefits.gov to apply for benefits.
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