As the summer season approaches, so does an important opportunity for Virginia retailers to support their communities. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has announced the return of the Virginia SUN Bucks program for 2025, which provides $120 in grocery benefits per eligible child to help families cover the cost of food during the summer months.
Last year, more than 713,000 children benefited from this initiative—and this year, we hope to reach even more families with your help.
What Retailers Need to Know
If your business participates in or accepts the SNAP or TANF programs, you can accept SUN Bucks, as the benefit runs directly through those programs. This is a great opportunity to prepare your staff and inform your customers in advance.
Participating retailers are encouraged to:
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Prepare staff with basic information about SUN Bucks.
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Display flyers and infographics in-store (coming soon from VDSS).
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Share SUN Bucks updates on social media and your website.
Eligibility Highlights
Children may be automatically eligible for SUN Bucks if they:
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Are enrolled in SNAP, TANF, or certain medical assistance programs (also known as “direct cert”).
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Were approved for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
If a child is not automatically eligible, families can:
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Download a paper application now from the SUN Bucks website.
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Call the Virginia SUN Bucks Call Center beginning July 1, 2025 to apply by phone.
Applicants will need:
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Child’s legal name, date of birth, and home address
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School name and school division
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Student ID (from the school’s parent portal)
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Household income
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(Optional) Proof of citizenship/legal status and last 4 digits of Social Security number
Spread the Word
The Virginia Retail Federation encourages our members to:
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Monitor and share updates from VDSS social media
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Display printed materials (we’ll share them when available)
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Remind SNAP/TANF shoppers that they may be eligible for or already receiving SUN Bucks
This is a simple and meaningful way for local retailers to help families stretch their grocery budgets this summer.
We’ll continue to provide updates as more resources become available. In the meantime, thank you for being a vital partner in supporting Virginia families through your business.
For full details and program updates, visit https://virginiasunbucks.com
