JTHS Families: 

Information regarding free summer meals for children 18 and under and the Summer EBT Notice are below.  

Free Summer Meals for Children 18 and Under
Free meals are available during the summer to all children 18 and under, regardless of income level.  This Illinois State Board of Education program has several Joliet-area sites that offer breakfast, lunch, or both.  For more information, call 1-866-348-6479, text SUMMER to 914-342-7744 or visit. HungerFreeAmerica.org. View the Summer Meal Flyer for more information. 

Summer 2026 EBT – SUN Bucks Program Information
What is Summer EBT?
Summer EBT, or SUN Bucks, is a new permanent nutrition program authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help families buy food for their school-aged children 6-17 years old during the summer. SUN Bucks 2026 will provide a $120 annual benefit to eligible children, via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) issuance by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), starting at the end of May 2026. More information on the federal program is available on the Illinois Department of Human Services website. Please note – Joliet Township High School does not have or issue EBT debit cards or determine eligibility for this program. 

Is My Child Eligible?
Your child is eligible for SUN Bucks if: Your child was identified as directly certified by the IDHS during the 2025-2026 school year due to participation in SNAP, TANF, income-eligible Medicaid (185% of the federal poverty guideline), or was identified as foster, homeless, or migrant and your child attended Joliet Central, Joliet West, or Pathways Academy that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). If you met requirements through the JTHS meal/income application process for free or reduced-price meals, you should go to the Summer EBT Portal and click, Check if I Should Apply for Summer EBT.

How do I enroll my child in SUN Bucks?
To be eligible, your child(ren) must be identified as direct certified due to participation in SNAP, TANF, income-eligible Medicaid (185% of the federal poverty guideline), or be identified as foster, homeless, migrant or be approved income eligible by submitting a program application to the IDHS. If you didn’t previously qualify during the 2025-2026 school year and believe your household income is less than 185% of the Federal level, your child(ren) may be eligible for the Summer EBT/SUN Bucks program.  Families should complete the Application for Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT). 

Who should I contact if I have a question?
To assist you with basic questions about Summer EBT 2026, households should visit the IDHS website and click FAQ’s for Summer EBT 2026 or call the IDHS customer help line at (833) 621-0737.  

Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.  Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:  

1. mail:  
   U.S. Department of Agriculture  
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights  
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW  
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or  

2. fax:  
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or  

3. email:  
   Program.Intake@usda.gov  

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.