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Virginia SUN Bucks Program Offers Summer Grocery Support for Eligible Families

The Virginia Department of Social Services is reminding families across the Commonwealth to review their eligibility for the Virginia SUN Bucks program—an initiative aimed at helping households with children access healthy food during the summer months when school is out.

Virginia SUN Bucks provides grocery-buying benefits to qualifying families with school-aged children. The program is designed to bridge the nutrition gap many students face during the summer when free or reduced-price school meals are unavailable.

Automatic Eligibility:

Families do not need to apply if they have already received one or more of the following during the 2024–2025 school year:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

  • Income-based Medical Assistance

  • Free or reduced-price school meals

Who Should Apply?

Families who do not receive SNAP, TANF, income-based Medical Assistance, or who did not apply for free or reduced-price school meals will need to submit an application to receive SUN Bucks.

How to Apply?

Applications are now available at VirginiaSunBucks.com. Interested families can:

  • Download and mail a paper application to:
    5600 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA, 23060

  • Or call the Virginia SUN Bucks Call Center to apply by phone from July 1 to August 30, 2025, by dialing 866-513-1414 (toll-free), Monday through Friday, from 9:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Key Dates to Remember:

  • Now: Mail-in applications are live at VirginiaSunBucks.com

  • July 1, 2025: Phone applications open via the SUN Bucks Call Center

  • August 30, 2025: Last day to apply for 2025 summer benefits

For more details and answers to frequently asked questions, visit VirginiaSunBucks.com.