The Iowa Hunger Coalition is elated to hear the news that Iowa will be participating in Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) in 2026. This federally funded program will help approximately 244,000 children in Iowa gain access to additional grocery benefits during the summer months when they lose access to free and reduced price school meals.
“Today’s announcement is a huge win for every single Iowan,” said Paige Chickering, Iowa State Manager for Save the Children Action Network and vice chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition. “It’s a win for Iowa’s kids, it’s a win for Governor Reynolds, it’s a win for retailers, it’s a win for rural economies, it’s a win for food banks and food pantries, and it’s a win for Iowa’s anti-hunger advocates who have relentlessly worked to ensure Iowa participates in Summer EBT.”
Summer EBT is a tried and tested, evidence-based program that has been thoroughly researched and found to increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and dairy, while decreasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
SUN Bucks provides $40 per month to qualifying children to purchase any items eligible for purchase with SNAP directly from grocery stores, farmers markets, convenience stores, and all other SNAP-approved retailers. Iowa’s SNAP restriction waiver goes into effect on January 1, 2026, and these same restrictions will apply to SUN Bucks purchases.
“While the Iowa Hunger Coalition remains opposed to SNAP food and beverage restrictions, we are overjoyed that Governor Reynolds recognizes the importance of the SUN Bucks program and has chosen to participate in 2026,” said Luke Elzinga, policy and advocacy manager for the DMARC Food Pantry Network and chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition. “Hundreds of thousands of Iowa’s kids will be better off during the summer as a result.”
Today the state also released a final report for the Healthy Kids Iowa (HKI) pilot program, the state’s alternative to Summer EBT in 2025. The report found that Iowa’s pilot fell short of its stated goals, and also found that Healthy Kids Iowa participants and host sites greatly favored Summer EBT over HKI.
The Iowa Hunger Coalition has long advocated for Summer EBT and cautioned against the state’s alternative approaches. Last month, the Iowa Hunger Coalition in partnership with Save the Children Action Network delivered over 650 handwritten signatures in support of Summer EBT to the Governor’s office.
“This decision does not only signal a choice to pursue evidence-based policy and best practice in addressing food insecurity for Iowan children but also shows the huge impact that anti-hunger advocates have had in our state,” said Chickering.