Do Kids Still Get Free Meals When School Is Out in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana children can still get free meals and grocery support during summer break, even when school cafeterias are closed.
Two programs make this possible: SUN Meals, which provides free meals and snacks at community sites to any child 18 and under, and SUN Bucks, which gives families of eligible school-age kids a one-time $120 grocery benefit per child for the summer loaded onto an EBT card. Families may be able to use both programs at the same time.
This article explains how each program works, who qualifies, and how to access them.
Nest Health cares for Louisiana families at home and online through participating Medicaid health plans. If food access, transportation, child care, or summer schedules are making it harder to keep up with your family’s health care, Nest may be able to help. If you've been contacted by Nest Health or your health plan — or think your family may be eligible — call us at 866-222-NEST (6378) to learn more about availability in your area.
What Is the Summer Food Service Program (SUN Meals)?
The Summer Food Service Program, also called SUN Meals, provides free meals and snacks for kids when school isn’t in session. The program is federally funded by the USDA and administered in Louisiana by the Louisiana Department of Education.
In Louisiana, families may also see this program called Summer Meals. The name may be different depending on the site, but the goal is the same: helping children get meals during the summer.
SUN Meals are available at no cost to children and teens during summer. Meals may be served at schools, parks, libraries, community centers, churches, camps, and other neighborhood locations. Louisiana has nearly 900 summer meal sites, with more than 45 of them at public libraries.
Some rural communities may offer SUN Meals To-Go, which can allow families to pick up or receive delivered meals instead of eating at the site. This option is only available in some rural communities. Families should contact the site or state agency to ask about local options.
Who Can Eat at a Summer Meal Site?
Any child 18 or younger can eat free at a participating Summer Food Service Program site, regardless of income, school enrollment, or documentation. No application or ID is required.
At most sites, families do not need to show any of these to get a free meal:
Application or registration
Proof of income
A Medicaid card
A SNAP/EBT card
Proof that the child attends a certain school or program
Immigration documents
Some young adults over age 18 may also qualify if they are enrolled in a school program for students with disabilities. If this applies to your family, contact Louisiana Department of Education or the meal site's sponsoring organization to confirm. The staff at the meal site may not know this rule.
How to Find a Summer Meal Site Near You
You can find a free summer meal site through any of these ways:
Use the USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder. You can search by address or ZIP code to find nearby meal sites, hours, and contact information. It should be updated throughout the summer as new sites register.
Call the National Hunger Hotline: 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479)
For Spanish, call 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273)
Text “Summer Meals” to (914) 342-7744 to receive a link to the Sun Meals site finder
Live in New Orleans or Baton Rouge? Nest Health also has local food resource pages that can help you find food pantries and meal support beyond SUN Meals sites:
What is Summer EBT (also called SUN Bucks)?
SUN Bucks is a Summer EBT grocery benefit program authorized by the USDA. Louisiana is participating in the program again in 2026. It gives families a one-time $120 grocery benefit per eligible school-age child to help buy food during the summer at grocery stores and other retailers that accept SNAP/EBT.
SUN Bucks does not replace SNAP, and it is separate from regular SNAP benefits.
SUN Bucks is also different from SUN Meals:
SUN Meals gives all children prepared meals at community sites.
SUN Bucks gives eligible children grocery money on an EBT card.
Families can use both programs if they qualify.
For a full walkthrough of SUN Bucks eligibility, EBT card delivery, deadlines, and troubleshooting, see Nest Health’s Summer EBT Louisiana 2026 guide.
Who Qualifies for SUN Bucks?
For 2026, most eligible children are enrolled automatically — no application needed — if they were born between August 20, 2007, and July 1, 2020 (Louisiana's school-age range for 2026) AND received SNAP, FITAP, Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP), or income-based Medicaid benefits at any point between July 1, 2025, and August 20, 2026.
Children may also be automatically enrolled if they attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and were individually approved for free or reduced-price school meals.
Children in homeschool or virtual school must receive SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or income-based Medicaid to be eligible for SUN Bucks.
School-age foster children who are formally placed by the State welfare agency or court in a caretaker household are eligible for benefits regardless of household income.
Children who don't fall into any of these categories may still qualify based on household income, but families will need to apply — see the “What If My Child Was Not Automatically Enrolled?” section below.
How are SUN Bucks Delivered?
SUN Bucks are issued through EBT.
SNAP households and families who received SUN Bucks last summer should have benefits added to their existing SNAP or SUN Bucks EBT card — no separate card arrives.
New participants not on SNAP get a preloaded EBT card mailed in a plain white envelope addressed to their child. If you have more than one eligible child, cards may arrive separately.
For 2026, automatic enrollment benefits began loading between May 27 and June 2, with additional benefits issued as applications are approved or children become newly eligible.
Tip: Make sure your mailing address is current with Medicaid, SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or your child’s school. An old address can delay or prevent your card from reaching you.
What If My Child Was Not Automatically Enrolled?
Children who were not automatically enrolled may still qualify based on household income.
Families can apply through the Louisiana Summer EBT application portal if their income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, which translates to:
$40,034/year ($3,337/month) for a family of 2
$50,542/year ($4,212/month) for a family of 3
$61,050/year ($5,088/month) for a family of 4
$71,558/year ($5,964/month) for a family of 5
$82,066/year ($6,839/month) for a family of 6
$92,574/year ($7,715/month) for a family of 7
$103,082/year ($8,591/month) for a family of 8
For larger households, add $10,508 per additional person for the annual calculation.
Applications for summer 2026 are accepted until August 20, 2026. Applications received after that date will be considered for summer 2027 instead.
Once approved, SUN Bucks are typically issued within about three weeks.
How to Use Your SUN Bucks Card
SUN Bucks can be used like SNAP at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other food retailers that accept SNAP benefits. LDH says families can use SUN Bucks to buy foods like fruits, vegetables, meat, grains, and dairy.
You can use SUN Bucks for many foods, including:
Fruits and vegetables
Milk, cheese, and yogurt
Bread, rice, pasta, and cereal
Meat, poultry, and fish
Other grocery foods
SUN Bucks cannot be used for hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, or non-food items.
New cards must be activated before use. You can activate a card or get a replacement card through the LifeInCheck EBT app, by calling EBT customer service at 888-997-1117, or by visiting LifeInCheckEBT.com.
SUN Bucks must be used within 122 days after they are loaded to the card. Unused benefits expire after 122 days and cannot be replaced.
Keep your cards for next year! Cards are reusable. If a child receives SUN Bucks in a future year, the same card number may be reloaded.
Does Louisiana Medicaid Cover Health Care During Summer?
Yes. Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) does not stop or change when school is out. Children’s health coverage continues year-round as long as they remain eligible and enrolled for Medicaid.
Summer can be a good time to catch up on care that may be harder to schedule during the school year, such as:
Well-child visits
Annual physicals
Immunizations
Vision or hearing concerns
Dental care
Behavioral health follow-up
Medication refills
Exact benefits, networks, and prior authorization rules can vary by Medicaid health plan. If you are not sure what is covered, call the number on your health plan ID card.
Nest Health offers in-home and virtual pediatric care for eligible Louisiana Medicaid families in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. That means your family may be able to get care without arranging transportation, taking multiple children to a clinic, or fitting one more trip into a busy summer schedule. If you've been contacted by Nest Health or your health plan — or think your family may be eligible — call us at 866-222-NEST (6378) to learn more about availability in your area.
Summer Meals vs. SUN Bucks: What Is the Difference?
Both programs help Louisiana kids eat during summer break, but they work in different ways.
| SUN Meals | SUN Bucks | |
|---|---|---|
| What it provides | Free prepared meals and snacks at community sites | A one-time $120 grocery benefit per eligible child loaded on an EBT card |
| Who qualifies | Any child age 18 or younger | Eligible school-age children |
| Application needed? | No application needed | Most eligible children are automatically enrolled (no application needed); some families must apply |
| Where it is used | At participating meal sites | At SNAP/EBT-authorized retailers |
| Income requirement | No income requirement for children at participating sites | Yes, unless the child qualifies through SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, income-based Medicaid, or approved school meals |
| How long it lasts | During summer, based on each site’s schedule | 122 days from the date benefits are loaded |
Families can use SUN Meals and SUN Bucks at the same time. Getting meals at a SUN Meals site does not stop your child from receiving SUN Bucks if they qualify.
FAQs
Write each answer at a maximum of 300 characters, answering directly in the first sentence.
Do I need to sign my child up for SUN Meals?
No. At most participating sites, you can bring your child during meal hours. No paperwork is required.
Do kids need to eat the meal on-site?
Usually, yes. Some approved rural areas may offer SUN Meals To-Go for pickup or delivery options.
Can parents eat at SUN Meals sites?
Some sites may allow adults to buy a meal at a reduced cost, but rules vary. Ask the individual site.
Does my child qualify for SUN Bucks if they have Medicaid?
Many children with income-based Louisiana Medicaid qualify automatically if they meet the 2026 age and eligibility rules.
I never received a SUN Bucks card. What should I do?
Check that your address is current with Medicaid, SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or your child’s school. Then, call the SUN Bucks Helpline at 833-323-7482 to check your card's status.
Can I use SUN Bucks at Walmart or other large stores?
Yes, if the store accepts SNAP/EBT. SUN Bucks works at any retailer that accepts SNAP/EBT, including major grocery chains.
Is there a limit to how many times my child can eat at a SUN Meals site?
No. Children can visit participating sites as many times as needed during operating hours. Check the site’s schedule before you go.
Health Care for Your Family This Summer With Nest Health
Food, transportation, child care, and health care are all connected. When one is hard to access, the others can become harder too.
Nest Health provides in-home and virtual care for the whole family year-round, including summer, through participating Medicaid health plans. For eligible Louisiana families, that includes pediatric care, family medicine, behavioral health support, care coordination, and help connecting to community resources.
If your family is trying to keep up with summer meals, groceries, school forms, check-ups, vaccines, or refills, Nest may be able to help make care easier to access.
Programs like SUN Meals and SUN Bucks and healthcare from Nest work together toward the same goal: keeping Louisiana families healthier when access would otherwise be harder.
Nest services may be available to your family at no additional cost through your Medicaid health plan. Call 866-222-NEST (6378) to check your eligibility.
