ALERT: No Kid Hungry Virginia Urges Families to Apply for SUN Bucks Benefits by August 30
Eligible families can receive $120 per child for grocery expenses
[Contact: Hannah Robinson at 520-222-2808 or hrobinson@hodgespart.com]
RICHMOND, Va. (August 15, 2024) – Don’t miss out: About 790,000 students are eligible for Virginia SUN Bucks, a new program that provides grocery benefits for kids when school is out of session. While most eligible households have already received the benefit automatically, caregivers will need to apply for an estimated 140,000 Virginia kids by August 30.
Through SUN Bucks, eligible families receive a one-time installment of $120 per child on Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, which can be used for groceries like fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grain, dairy and meat.
The rollout of SUN Bucks will continue over the coming weeks.
“SUN Bucks helps connect kids with important nutrition, so they can return to school happy, healthy, and ready to learn,” said Sarah Steely, No Kid Hungry Virginia Director. “This is a big deal for families in Virginia, and I’m thankful for the many state and nonprofit partners who worked hard to launch SUN Bucks in 2024. It is important that eligible families know about this opportunity and apply by August 30.”
For a child to receive SUN Bucks benefits automatically, they must participate in SNAP, TANF or Medicaid assistance with a reported household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, or be determined eligible for free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program at their school.
Families must apply for SUN Bucks if a child did not apply for and receive free or reduced-price school meals or the household does not participate in SNAP, TANF or Medicaid based on income.
Some schools provide free meals to kids without an application. If a child attends one of these schools and they do not participate in SNAP, TANF or Medicaid, families should apply.
Families can check eligibility and find more information at www.virginiasunbucks.com.
Those who wish to apply can fill out the Virginia SUN Bucks application and print, sign and mail it to Virginia SUN Bucks at 5600 Cox Road, Glen Allen, or call the Virginia SUN Bucks Call Center at 866-513-1414 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Families can call the same number should questions about eligibility or current application status arise.
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About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids in the United States live with hunger. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.