PantryPath Research · Summer EBT Atlas
SUN Bucks in North Carolina
Hybrid (auto + application)North Carolina is issuing Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) for the 2025 plan year. We estimate 633,565 children qualify, unlocking roughly $76.0M in federal grocery dollars for families this summer.
Operated by NC DHHS.
634K
Eligible children (≤185% FPL)
37.3%
Eligibility share (5–17)
$76.0M
Dollars flowing in
100
Counties
North Carolina by county
← Back to national atlasToggle between eligible-child counts, eligibility share, and benefit dollars flowing into each county. Hover a county for its exact value.
Loading county map…
North Carolina at a glance
Participation
Yes
Hybrid (auto + application)
Eligible children
634K
Est. ≤185% FPL
Eligibility share
37.3%
Eligible / 5–17
Dollars flowing
$76.0M
$120 × eligible
Dollars forfeited
—
$120 × eligible
5–17 in poverty
288K
SAIPE ≤100% FPL
County-level hotspots
Top five counties across 100 counties in North Carolina.
Most eligible children
Est. ≤185% FPL
- 1 Mecklenburg County 57K
- 2 Guilford County 38K
- 3 Wake County 36K
- 4 Forsyth County 29K
- 5 Cumberland County 28K
Highest eligibility share
Eligible / 5–17 universe
- 1 Scotland County 94.0%
- 2 Halifax County 91.6%
- 3 Edgecombe County 87.6%
- 4 Vance County 83.5%
- 5 Robeson County 83.4%
Largest dollars flowing in
$120 × eligible
- 1 Mecklenburg County $6.9M
- 2 Guilford County $4.5M
- 3 Wake County $4.3M
- 4 Forsyth County $3.5M
- 5 Cumberland County $3.4M
Every county in North Carolina
All 100 counties with Summer EBT eligibility estimates and dollars at stake.
| County | 5–17 in poverty | Eligible (≤185% FPL) | Eligibility share | Dollars flowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | 4,142 | 9,112 | 31.6% | $1.1M |
| Alexander County | 891 | 1,960 | 37.3% | $235K |
| Alleghany County | 333 | 733 | 52.8% | $88K |
| Anson County | 1,016 | 2,235 | 72.1% | $268K |
| Ashe County | 678 | 1,492 | 44.8% | $179K |
| Avery County | 397 | 873 | 47.3% | $105K |
| Beaufort County | 1,874 | 4,123 | 65.2% | $495K |
| Bertie County | 700 | 1,540 | 74.1% | $185K |
| Bladen County | 1,348 | 2,966 | 68.6% | $356K |
| Brunswick County | 2,571 | 5,656 | 35.5% | $679K |
| Buncombe County | 5,703 | 12,547 | 35.6% | $1.5M |
| Burke County | 2,753 | 6,057 | 53.0% | $727K |
| Cabarrus County | 4,899 | 10,778 | 24.2% | $1.3M |
| Caldwell County | 1,919 | 4,222 | 36.6% | $507K |
| Camden County | 148 | 326 | 16.8% | $39K |
| Carteret County | 1,195 | 2,629 | 29.6% | $315K |
| Caswell County | 696 | 1,531 | 49.3% | $184K |
| Catawba County | 3,598 | 7,916 | 30.4% | $950K |
| Chatham County | 1,206 | 2,653 | 22.6% | $318K |
| Cherokee County | 790 | 1,738 | 50.4% | $209K |
| Chowan County | 491 | 1,080 | 53.1% | $130K |
| Clay County | 271 | 596 | 44.9% | $72K |
| Cleveland County | 4,246 | 9,341 | 57.1% | $1.1M |
| Columbus County | 2,306 | 5,073 | 68.3% | $609K |
| Craven County | 3,909 | 8,600 | 55.6% | $1.0M |
| Cumberland County | 12,944 | 28,477 | 48.0% | $3.4M |
| Currituck County | 519 | 1,142 | 21.9% | $137K |
| Dare County | 628 | 1,382 | 27.7% | $166K |
| Davidson County | 5,346 | 11,761 | 42.6% | $1.4M |
| Davie County | 915 | 2,013 | 29.2% | $242K |
| Duplin County | 2,378 | 5,232 | 62.7% | $628K |
| Durham County | 6,896 | 15,171 | 33.8% | $1.8M |
| Edgecombe County | 3,215 | 7,073 | 87.6% | $849K |
| Forsyth County | 13,396 | 29,471 | 45.6% | $3.5M |
| Franklin County | 1,714 | 3,771 | 31.1% | $453K |
| Gaston County | 6,876 | 15,127 | 39.5% | $1.8M |
| Gates County | 277 | 609 | 41.0% | $73K |
| Graham County | 256 | 563 | 53.3% | $68K |
| Granville County | 1,365 | 3,003 | 32.8% | $360K |
| Greene County | 805 | 1,771 | 63.2% | $213K |
| Guilford County | 17,217 | 37,877 | 42.9% | $4.5M |
| Halifax County | 3,084 | 6,785 | 91.6% | $814K |
| Harnett County | 4,505 | 9,911 | 38.9% | $1.2M |
| Haywood County | 1,307 | 2,875 | 35.7% | $345K |
| Henderson County | 2,424 | 5,333 | 32.8% | $640K |
| Hertford County | 876 | 1,927 | 69.4% | $231K |
| Hoke County | 2,529 | 5,564 | 55.6% | $668K |
| Hyde County | 164 | 361 | 71.3% | $43K |
| Iredell County | 3,482 | 7,660 | 23.4% | $919K |
| Jackson County | 1,075 | 2,365 | 43.9% | $284K |
| Johnston County | 6,174 | 13,583 | 30.7% | $1.6M |
| Jones County | 353 | 777 | 61.2% | $93K |
| Lee County | 2,684 | 5,905 | 52.1% | $709K |
| Lenoir County | 2,733 | 6,013 | 67.3% | $722K |
| Lincoln County | 1,911 | 4,204 | 29.5% | $504K |
| Macon County | 938 | 2,064 | 40.8% | $248K |
| Madison County | 503 | 1,107 | 40.6% | $133K |
| Martin County | 920 | 2,024 | 63.8% | $243K |
| McDowell County | 1,219 | 2,682 | 42.1% | $322K |
| Mecklenburg County | 26,076 | 57,367 | 30.9% | $6.9M |
| Mitchell County | 373 | 821 | 40.6% | $99K |
| Montgomery County | 809 | 1,780 | 44.8% | $214K |
| Moore County | 1,992 | 4,382 | 25.9% | $526K |
| Nash County | 3,157 | 6,945 | 44.8% | $833K |
| New Hanover County | 4,394 | 9,667 | 31.7% | $1.2M |
| Northampton County | 692 | 1,522 | 70.4% | $183K |
| Onslow County | 6,099 | 13,418 | 38.1% | $1.6M |
| Orange County | 1,649 | 3,628 | 17.0% | $435K |
| Pamlico County | 323 | 711 | 56.3% | $85K |
| Pasquotank County | 1,412 | 3,106 | 50.7% | $373K |
| Pender County | 1,574 | 3,463 | 30.3% | $416K |
| Perquimans County | 448 | 986 | 53.7% | $118K |
| Person County | 1,118 | 2,460 | 41.4% | $295K |
| Pitt County | 6,479 | 14,254 | 52.9% | $1.7M |
| Polk County | 438 | 964 | 42.3% | $116K |
| Randolph County | 4,500 | 9,900 | 41.0% | $1.2M |
| Richmond County | 2,166 | 4,765 | 66.7% | $572K |
| Robeson County | 8,155 | 17,941 | 83.4% | $2.2M |
| Rockingham County | 2,498 | 5,496 | 40.0% | $660K |
| Rowan County | 4,713 | 10,369 | 42.5% | $1.2M |
| Rutherford County | 1,896 | 4,171 | 43.8% | $501K |
| Sampson County | 2,684 | 5,905 | 55.9% | $709K |
| Scotland County | 2,439 | 5,366 | 94.0% | $644K |
| Stanly County | 1,386 | 3,049 | 29.2% | $366K |
| Stokes County | 925 | 2,035 | 32.5% | $244K |
| Surry County | 1,676 | 3,687 | 33.5% | $442K |
| Swain County | 500 | 1,100 | 51.2% | $132K |
| Transylvania County | 681 | 1,498 | 39.4% | $180K |
| Tyrrell County | 153 | 337 | 67.4% | $40K |
| Union County | 4,448 | 9,786 | 19.5% | $1.2M |
| Vance County | 2,741 | 6,030 | 83.5% | $724K |
| Wake County | 16,213 | 35,669 | 17.7% | $4.3M |
| Warren County | 742 | 1,632 | 66.2% | $196K |
| Washington County | 549 | 1,208 | 78.9% | $145K |
| Watauga County | 585 | 1,287 | 25.6% | $154K |
| Wayne County | 4,668 | 10,270 | 50.9% | $1.2M |
| Wilkes County | 1,924 | 4,233 | 44.9% | $508K |
| Wilson County | 3,531 | 7,768 | 58.9% | $932K |
| Yadkin County | 942 | 2,072 | 36.6% | $249K |
| Yancey County | 528 | 1,162 | 48.4% | $139K |
Free summer meals in North Carolina
USDA's Summer Food Service Program runs free meal sites at schools, libraries, and parks. Open to any child 18 and under, no ID or income verification required.
Find summer meal sitesSchool-year free meals
Free and reduced-price National School Lunch and Breakfast programs — eligibility automatically qualifies kids for Summer EBT in participating states.
School meals guideNorth Carolina SNAP
SNAP enrollment often triggers automatic Summer EBT eligibility. State-specific application guide and benefit amounts.
North Carolina SNAP guideFamilies with children
Our population-specific guide: SNAP, WIC, Summer EBT, school meals, and pantry programs for families with kids in North Carolina.
Full families guideFind a food pantry
Search North Carolina's verified pantries — many offer backpack programs, summer box distributions, and family-sized groceries during the summer months.
North Carolina food pantries