WYOMING — Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order Wednesday to implement a limited version of the federal nutritional program SUN Bucks. The program provides grocery benefits to low-income families with school-aged children who might lose access to free or reduced-price meals when school is not in session.
The Wyoming Legislature declined to fund the program during the recent budget session. Since then, according to Gordon, the state “has been able to pull together the resources needed to ensure low-income children will receive much needed meals.”
“When school lets out for the summer, children who qualify for free and reduced-price school meals lose access to the daily nutritious meals they rely on,” said Wyoming Department of Family Services Director Korin Schmidt in a press release. “Existing summer meal sites are vital, but families often face accessibility challenges due to working parents’ schedules and transportation barriers. This program bridges that nutrition gap and sets kids up for success when school starts again.”
Food and food access have been a point of focus for Gordon during his tenure. During the federal government shutdown in October 2025, he mobilized up to $10 million to support food banks in the state when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were paused. Later, a waiver request that he submitted to the federal government was approved, restricting purchases of candy and soda with SNAP benefits. First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative transitioned to an independent organization late last year.
“Wonderful things happen when Wyoming comes together to ensure children are fed during the summer months,” First Lady Jennie Gordon shared in a press release. “Expanding access to nutritious food for families in our rural communities makes our entire state stronger.”
