School Supplies, Afterschool, Summer Meals, and SUN Bucks for Single Mothers

Where to start

Start with the school because many supports are handled at the building or district level. Ask for the school nutrition office, counselor, family liaison, social worker, McKinney-Vento liaison, or community schools coordinator. The title may be different in your district.

Quick help table

Free and reduced-price school meals

School breakfast and lunch can lower the food bill during the school year. Some schools serve free meals to all students. Other schools ask families to fill out a household meal application. USDA says parents should contact the child’s school to find out where to access the school meal application and how the local process works.

Some children may be approved without a separate meal form because the school receives information from programs such as SNAP. Do not assume your child is already approved unless the school says so in writing. If you moved, changed schools, lost a job, added a child to the household, or your income changed, ask whether you can apply or update the form during the school year.

Use plain words when you call. Say, “I need help with school meals,” not “I need a grant.” The school nutrition office can tell you whether the district uses paper forms, an online portal, direct certification, or a schoolwide free meal model. USAGov’s school meals page also gives a simple federal starting point.

Summer meals and SUN Meals

Summer meals are for children and teens when school is out. USDA says approved summer meal sites can serve meals and snacks at no cost to children 18 and under. In many places, children eat at schools, parks, libraries, community centers, churches, housing sites, or recreation programs.

Some rural areas may have pick-up or delivery options under SUN Meals To-Go, but this is not everywhere. The safest step is to check the site finder, then call the site or state agency before you travel. Ask whether meals must be eaten there, whether a parent can pick up meals, whether the site has weekend packs, and whether there are ID or sign-in rules.

If you cannot find a site near you, call 211 or the USDA National Hunger Hotline and ask for food pantries, mobile pantries, child meal sites, and weekend food programs. If your family needs food beyond school and summer meals, ASMOM’s local resources guide can help you organize the next calls.

SUN Bucks or Summer EBT

SUN Bucks, also called Summer EBT, is a grocery benefit for eligible school-age children during summer. USDA’s 2026 summer nutrition page says Summer EBT provides $120 in grocery benefits per eligible child in the summer. The program is run by participating states, territories, and Tribal Nations, so the local name, dates, card process, and application rules can differ.

Some children may get SUN Bucks automatically. Other families may need to apply through the agency that runs Summer EBT where they live. USDA’s Summer EBT household page says families should apply directly to the agency in their state, Tribe, or territory when they are not automatically enrolled. USDA also keeps a participating agencies list that shows where Summer EBT is available or planned.

Do not throw away an EBT card, state letter, or school food notice until you check it. It may explain SUN Bucks, school meal approval, a deadline, or a way to update your address. If your child changes schools or you move during summer, contact the state Summer EBT agency and your child’s school to ask how to update your mailing address.

School supplies, backpacks, clothes, and shoes

School supplies can be hard to afford when you are also paying for food, gas, rent, and child care. There is not one federal school supply program for every child. The best starting points are your child’s school, school social worker, teacher, district family office, 211, local United Way, churches, libraries, community centers, and seasonal backpack events.

Ask early, but also ask again after school starts. Some teachers and school offices have extra notebooks, pencils, headphones, hygiene items, uniforms, winter coats, or shoes after donation drives. Search 211 through United Way 211 and try words like “school supplies,” “backpacks,” “clothing,” “uniforms,” “shoes,” and “children.”

Some national nonprofits support supply drives or teacher supply networks. Kids In Need supports students and teachers with supplies, often through schools or teacher resource centers. Operation Backpack through Volunteers of America is another example, but local availability depends on the local office and the year.

Use ASMOM’s school supplies pages to find state-level starting points, then confirm dates and supplies with the local program. For wider nonprofit help, ASMOM’s organization guide lists other common places to ask.

Afterschool and summer learning programs

Afterschool care can help a single mother keep work hours, attend class, or finish a shift. Start with your child’s school office and ask about school-run programs, district programs, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, city recreation programs, Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, community centers, library programs, and child care subsidy providers.

The U.S. Department of Education says the 21st CCLC program supports community learning centers that offer enrichment during non-school hours. Families do not apply for the federal grant directly. Local schools, districts, and organizations run the programs and set enrollment steps.

Ask whether the program has homework help, meals or snacks, transportation, care on early-release days, help for children with disabilities, and a sliding fee. If the afterschool program is not free, ask the state child care office whether child care assistance can pay an approved provider. For a larger help plan, see ASMOM’s financial assistance guide after you check school options.

McKinney-Vento school help for homeless students

If your family does not have stable housing, ask for the district McKinney-Vento liaison. This can apply to families in shelters, motels, cars, campgrounds, temporary doubled-up housing, or other unstable places. You do not need to decide the legal label on your own. Tell the school what is happening and ask the liaison to review it.

The National Center for Homeless Education explains that McKinney-Vento is the main federal law tied to the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. NCHE’s McKinney-Vento page and enrollment guidance discuss school stability and immediate enrollment. The school liaison can explain what the district can do for your child.

Possible help may include school enrollment support, help getting records, school stability questions, transportation questions, supply help, and connections to other services. This is not a promise of housing. If housing is the larger issue, use ASMOM’s housing help guide and your local 211 while you work with the school.

Internet and device help through school

Many school forms, grades, homework sites, and benefit notices are online now. Ask the school whether it has loaner laptops, hotspot loans, library hotspots, device repair help, printed packets, or a parent portal support person. Do not assume help exists, but do ask before buying a device you cannot afford.

For phone or internet bills, the FCC says Lifeline support can help make qualifying phone, internet, or bundled service more affordable through participating providers. You can also search EveryoneOn offers for low-cost internet or computers in your area. Availability, prices, documents, and providers vary by address.

If you need a wider state path, start with ASMOM’s state help directory and look for school, phone, internet, utility, and local resource guides for your state.

Documents and information to gather

Do not delay asking for help because you are missing one paper. Ask the office what it needs and what can be accepted instead. Keep photos or copies of anything you turn in.

If help is denied, delayed, or confusing

Ask for the reason in writing when a school meal application, afterschool slot, SUN Bucks request, transportation request, or school support request is denied. Write down the date, the person you spoke with, and what they said. Ask what appeal, review, or correction process applies.

For school meals and SUN Bucks, the correct office may be the school nutrition office, district office, or state agency. For McKinney-Vento, ask for the district liaison and then the state homeless education coordinator if needed. For public benefits that affect food, health coverage, or cash help, ASMOM’s benefits guide can help you sort the next step.