Grassroots Outreach Is Reconnecting Washington Families to SUN Bucks
All federal nutrition programs see fluctuation in enrollment from year to year, as families move, incomes change, and households age. But when we looked at Washington’s enrollment in SUN Bucks, the federal program that provides families with $120 per child for groceries during the summer, we saw a decrease of 8% - almost 51,000 kids – between 2024 and 2025. In rural counties, the drop was steeper. Island County, for example, enrolled 1,073 fewer kids in SUN Bucks in 2025 than it had the year prior – a decrease of 22%.
This was more than a normal demographic fluctuation (and unfortunately, census data tells us 8% of Washington kids didn’t suddenly rise above the income threshold). SUN Bucks enrollment fell due to a constellation of systemic reasons: stricter federal policy, added layers of bureaucracy, and heightened fear in immigrant communities, to name a few.
As part of our SUN Bucks strategy for 2026, we provided microgrant funding to 19 community-based organizations in areas of the state with the biggest drop-offs in SUN Bucks enrollment. Together, these organizations are sharing factual, accessible information about SUN Bucks with the communities they serve, helping families to understand their eligibility and how to apply for benefits.
In Okanogan County, for example, a moment of confusion launched the Brewster Boys & Girls into a countywide campaign. After a staff member nearly threw away her own child’s SUN Bucks card due to unfamiliarity with the program, they committed to increasing community awareness. With the support of Hunger Free Washington, they’ve distributed bilingual flyers in schools, libraries, and to-go meal bags, tabled at events hosted by the local hospital and police department, and made clear that SUN Bucks has no immigration requirement - a key message for the area's large migrant community.
Other grantees are amplifying this message in their own corners of the state. Community Resource Center of Island County is sharing information at farmers markets, local resource hubs, and parent advisory events. Skagit County Hospital District is weaving SUN Bucks messaging into WIC clinic visits and training front-desk staff to answer questions on the spot. Sunnyside School District in Yakima County is sharing flyers at Free Summer Meals sites and as part of school registration packets, as well as placing Spanish ads in local newspapers.
While this kind of grassroots outreach won’t singlehandedly solve the systemic problems driving a decrease in SUN Bucks enrollment, it does help ensure that families have the support and information they need to apply for, receive, and spend their benefits. At the same time, Hunger Free Washington will continue advocating at the state and federal level to make SUN Bucks as accessible as possible – because all kids deserve to enjoy summer with a full stomach.