As CalFresh Guidelines Expand, Where Can Students Who Rely on School Meals Go?

Now — because of H.R. 1, President Donald Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” — the state must bring back the requirement that some CalFresh recipients must work and show proof that they are working 20 hours a week, or an average of 80 hours a month. For those who don’t fulfill the requirements, a stark reduction in food benefits will ensue.

“Not only does it add in the onerous work requirement — a lot of people who are already receiving CalFresh are working — but now they have this bureaucratic paperwork to provide,” said Kathy Saile, the state director of California’s branch of the national nonprofit No Kid Hungry. “There’s some real concern that people could lose benefits just because they couldn’t figure out the paperwork.”

• Jump to: Where can teenagers and young people find meals in the Bay Area this summer?

H.R.1’s impact, which also takes away food benefits for some humanitarian immigrants, is apparent, according to federal data analyzed by the nonpartisan research group Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The center estimated that nationwide, SNAP participation fell by almost 9% — more than 3.5 million people — between H.R.1’s start in July 2025 and February 2026.

Along with being stricter about implementing the work hours, the bill expands the age range. Now, barring exemptions, CalFresh recipients between the ages of 18 and 64 who do not live with a child under the age of 14 are required to fulfill the hours.

Previously, the age range was between 18 and 55. Also notable is that, in the past, parents or caregivers with a child aged 17 or younger were also exempt.

The new guidelines do not kick in right away for all 5.5 million CalFresh recipients; they apply to new applicants and people who need to recertify their eligibility.

The rule changes also do not mean that if a parent loses their benefits, their children will too.

However, “what we’re concerned about is that the parent or caregiver may not understand that the whole household is not losing benefits, or may not be able to get the paperwork and the continued recertification for their children,” Saile said.

This potential loss for the child may come during the summer, which she said “can be the hungriest time of the year, because they don’t have access to school meals.”

Read more for summertime food options for kids and teens in the Bay Area. Keep in mind that this guide focuses on students 18 and under; there is a work hour exemption for eligible college students who are enrolled at least half-time.

Where can teenagers and young people go for meals?

Make sure your kid is still on CalFresh

If someone is a parent who has been impacted by the new work hour guidelines, Saile recommended that they “make sure that they’re staying in close contact with their caseworker.”

“Going online and making sure they’re not missing any deadlines or recertification appointments, and just paying attention to those details,” she added.

Saile pointed to recent research from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which found that among 12 states with available data, “the number of children receiving SNAP food assistance has fallen by more than 700,000” since H.R.1 in July 2025. The states include Texas, Ohio, Michigan and Massachusetts.

“Even though kids weren’t the stated target of H R.1, it’s certainly resulting in loss of food assistance for children,” she said.

There is “also the chilling effect,” she said. “There are a lot of families who are afraid to participate in programs right now.”

Receive your SUN Bucks card

Saile said children on CalFresh are automatically enrolled in other programs like SUN Bucks, where a child can get $120 to buy food during the summer.

The card can be used at places like grocery stores, farmers’ markets, Walmart and Amazon. According to an FAQ from the state, people can use the card to buy food like fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat. However, the card — like most EBT cards — cannot be used to buy things like “hot foods, pet foods, cleaning or household supplies, personal hygiene items, or medicine.”

If the child is on CalFresh, the card “will just come automatically in the mail,” Saile said. “The parent or caregiver just creates a PIN for the card and then can use the card throughout the summer.”

If a child is not enrolled in CalFresh but is income-eligible (in households at or under 185% of federal poverty guidelines; see California’s breakdown on its website), Saile said the parent or caregiver should contact their school and ask for a universal benefit application form. The form must be submitted back to the school.

Parents can do that anytime during the summer before Aug. 31, Saile said.

When the card arrives, it may show up in a plain white envelope “for security reasons,” she said. “And people don’t know what it is. They think it might be a scam.”

To recognize it, look for the card’s logo: blocky capitalized letters in orange, yellow and teal that say SUN Bucks. There is a little image of a sun with a knife and fork in the corner.

For more information, people can call the SUN Bucks hotline at (877) 328-9677, which also has assistance in different languages.

Find nearby Summer Meals programs (also known as SUN Meals)

SUN Meals are free meals available to kids 18 and under at places like schools, libraries and parks throughout the summer.

Depending on the location, kids are required to either eat on-site or take a meal home with them. Some locations will not allow kids to take the meals home with them or have a parent pick up their meal.

According to the No Kid Hungry campaign, no application is required, and no proof of income, residency or citizenship will be requested.

The United States Department of Agriculture has a comprehensive and regularly updated map of locations that young people can visit for SUN Meals.

According to the USDA website, “at most sites, children receive either one or two reimbursable meals each day.” Meals tend to follow USDA nutrition guidelines, including milk, vegetables, fruit and grain. An example of a meal could be a turkey sandwich on wheat bread with an apple and salad.

The No Kid Hungry California campaign suggests on its website that families double-check the hours of the meal site before heading out to make sure the information is up to date. Families can also call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-348-6479 to find a location closest to them.

You can also download the state’s mobile app, CA Meals for Kids.

Get familiar with Bay Area food banks 

KQED has a thorough guide on using food banks or food pantries near you in both English and Spanish. The big takeaways:

Major food banks, like the SF-Marin Food Bank, the California Association of Food Banks or the Alameda County Community Food Bank, will likely have a tool online that can help you locate food resources near you. These maps or search engines can list locations ranging from large operations to small community fridges.

You can also call the 211 state hotline for more information.

Once you find a spot, be sure to check out the food bank or pantry online before heading out. Note what hours they are open, and for how long. Some locations are open to anyone and to walk-ins, but some may require people to register for a spot beforehand or live in a specific zip code.

Many food banks serve people regardless of immigration status. For example, the SF-Marin Food Bank states on its website that it “is committed to serving residents regardless of their immigration status or identity” and, as a non-government agency, does “not collect the immigration status of participants.”

But food advocates suggest double-checking by calling the food bank and seeing if it has reporting requirements.