Virginia Sun Bucks and Summer Meals
When school is out, access to food shouldn’t be. Each summer, the City of Alexandria works with schools, food pantries, and other community organizations, and neighbors to ensure children and teens stay fueled with nutritious meals.
SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)
Families may be eligible for SUN Bucks (Summer EBT), a grocery benefit program designed to help households buy food during the summer months when school is out.
Here’s what families should know:
- SUN Bucks provides a one-time payment of $120 grocery benefit per eligible child.
- Many children will receive the benefit automatically including youth receiving federal benefits like SNAP, youth in foster care and those who applied and received free or reduced meals on Alexandria non CEP-schools.
- Some households with students in Alexandria CEP schools need to apply. Review ACPS CEP schools here Community Eligibility Provision Schools Provide Free Meals to Students | stories
- Benefits are issued on one EBT card per household. If the family receives SNAP, the Sun Bucks benefit will deposit automatically into the SNAP EBT card. If not, they will receive a SUN Bucks EBT card in the email
Note: Benefits for Summer of 2026 starts being issued to all Virginia eligible children on late June.
Children who applied and were approved for free/reduced-price school meals or who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks.
Most children who get Medicaid are also automatically eligible for SUN Bucks because their income level is under the income level for the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program. Children who get Medicaid through the Children with Special Needs category (PH 95) and children who are in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will have to apply for SUN Bucks.
Use the Eligibility Navigator to determine if your child is eligible for SUN Bucks and whether you need to apply.
If you are not automatically enrolled and believe your children are eligible, you can get SUN Bucks by filling out a simple application.
Applications received after Monday, August 31 will be considered for SUN Bucks benefits in summer 2027.
Apply for SUN Bucks
Print and mail the SUN Bucks application:
English | Spanish | Amharic | Arabic
You can review and download the application in additional translations directly on the Virginia Department of Social Services website.
Applications should be mailed to:
5600 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
Drop off an application at:
Department of Community & Human Services
Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Dr., Floor 5
Online Application: Submit an online application for SUN Bucks
Apply by phone by calling 866.513.1414 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Summer Food Service Program
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is offering free meals for children under the age of 18, without charge, as part of the 2026 Summer Food Service Program. Breakfast and lunch meals will be provided Monday through Thursday, June 22 through July 16, at the locations and times below. Information, including a flier in multiple languages, is available at acps.k12.va.us/summermeals.
2026 Free Summer Meals Sites
| School | Address | Distribution Location | Breakfast | Lunch |
| Alexandria City High School | 3330 King St. | Door 10 | 9:30–10 a.m. | 12:30–1:30 p.m. |
| James K. Polk Elementary School | 5000 Polk Ave. | Door 3 | 8–8:30 a.m. | 12–1 p.m. |
| Mount Vernon Community School | 2601 Commonwealth Ave. | Door 14 | 8–8:30 a.m. | 12–1 p.m. |
| Francis C. Hammond Middle School | 4646 Seminary Rd. | Door 17 | 9–9:30 a.m. | 12–1 p.m. |
| John Adams Elementary School | 5651 Rayburn Ave. | Door 7 | 9:30–10 a.m. | 12:30–1:30 p.m. |
| Douglas MacArthur Elementary School | 1101 Janneys Ln. | Door 2 | 8–8:30a.m. | 12–1 p.m. |