Seasonal workforce helped more than 154,000 Californians access SUN Bucks support

SACRAMENTO, CA — As its 2026 season draws to a close, the Foundation for California Community Colleges’ (FoundationCCC) Community Impact Call Center has helped 154,952 Californians to date access summer food benefits through SUN Bucks, California’s Summer EBT program.

As of August 2026, the statewide SUN Bucks program, administered by the California Department of Social Services, had mailed 3.8 million cards and issued approximately $457 million in food benefits, helping families cover grocery costs while children are out of school.

The Community Impact Call Center relies on seasonal staffing to meet a significant need. Annually from April through October, it expands its capacity to address increased demand from families seeking assistance with summer food benefits. This support is especially important when children may have less access to school meals.

“As grocery costs continue to rise, SUN Bucks provides critical support for families working to put nutritious meals on the table during the summer,” said Leah Abate, senior director of Equity and Community Impact at FoundationCCC. “Every call matters. Each one is an opportunity to help a family understand and access the benefits available to them when they need support most.”

Behind this statewide impact is a skilled seasonal workforce. FoundationCCC exceeded its goal of hiring 230 limited-term employees, bringing on 239 employees for the 2026 season. For this cycle, FoundationCCC rehired 135 of 178 seasonal employees, maintaining a rehire rate of approximately 75%.

The team includes agents, team leads, supervisors, quality analysts, trainers, and operations coordinators. These remote positions allow employees across California to gain professional experience while supporting families and communities.

Half of the call center’s agents are bilingual in English and Spanish, and third-party interpretation services expanded assistance in 41 additional languages, helping reduce language barriers to essential benefits.

For Stephanie Samayoa, a seasonal position with the Community Impact Call Center became a pathway to a long-term career serving California families in need.

Samayoa, 33, attended Bakersfield College with plans to become a math teacher but left before completing her studies. After exploring several careers, she spent eight years helping her mother operate a home day care. Nervous about reentering the workforce, she joined FoundationCCC’s call center in 2024 after learning about the opportunity from a friend.

Her experience caring for children and drawing on her own upbringing gave her a personal connection to the work. As a bilingual agent, she guides families through applications, helps them locate school information, and addresses questions about missing cards and accessing benefits.

“Being bilingual in this role is everything,” Samayoa said. “I know from my own family how important it is to have someone explain information in Spanish and guide you through the process. Some families call back just to say thank you and tell us how much the support meant to them. Knowing I helped a family access food for their children warms my heart.”

In 2026, Samayoa was promoted to bilingual call center lead after starting as an agent in 2024, often overseeing 19-24 employees. She now hopes to become a supervisor and return to college to study child development or social work, continuing a career dedicated to community service.

During the 2026 cycle, numerous employees advanced into new roles, while many others continued with the organization beyond their seasonal assignments. FoundationCCC also connects experienced employees with year-round opportunities across its call center operations, including roles supporting CalKIDS, which helps California families access and manage state-funded college savings accounts. With support from FoundationCCC’s call center, CalKIDS recently surpassed its goal of 1 million CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts claimed by students and families across the state. 

This flexible staffing model allows the Community Impact Call Center to expand when families need assistance most, retain experienced employees when year-round opportunities are available, and maintain reliable support throughout the year.

To learn more about the Community Impact Call Center and its outreach services, visit the program web page. 

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The Foundation for California Community Colleges works to benefit students, colleges, and communities by accelerating paths to economic and social mobility, strengthening communities, and reducing barriers to opportunities for all Californians. FoundationCCC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1998. It serves as the official statewide nonprofit organization supporting the California Community Colleges, the largest system of higher education in the nation. For more information, visit www.foundationccc.org.