WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Time is running out for families to apply for a new program to help fill their pantries.

The Department of Social and Health Services partnered with the Superintendent’s Office for the service this summer, called SUN Bucks.

The nationwide program offers one-time payments of $120 per eligible child in each household, which are deposited onto dedicated SUN Bucks cards. More than half a million children in Washington were automatically eligible for the funds if they qualified for a school meal program or were part of a household that receives food benefits.

Students who did not automatically qualify can apply if they live in a house that meets the income eligibility guidelines.

The deadline to apply is Saturday, Aug. 31.

The state says more than 580,000 Washington children have already received nearly $69 million in food benefits this summer

To apply for SUN Bucks, head to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services website.