Benefits from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are expected to expire starting Nov. 1 and food assistance groups across Hampton Roads are bracing themselves for an avalanche of new demand for aid.
SNAP, the largest anti-hunger program in the country, helps roughly 850,000 Virginians afford food. Nationally, 41 million people receive benefits.
Before the shutdown, food insecurity in Hampton Roads had already grown 30% over the previous peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shutdown has worsened things dramatically in a region that relies on direct federal spending for nearly half of its economy.
Food aid efforts in recent weeks have been inundated with families of federal workers no longer receiving paychecks and military members uncertain about what will happen next. Now, community aid groups are readying themselves for the next wave.
Angela York is the executive director of THRIVE Peninsula, a pantry that offers online appointments to shop at its free grocery market. She said requests have already spiked and waitlists now stretch more than a week.
“The need of people in our community is already high, and if you take away SNAP benefits from families who are the most vulnerable in our community, then food pantries and food banks will be flooded with people,” York said.
What’s happening?
As the federal government shutdown enters its second month, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have SNAP indicated benefits will not be reloaded after Oct. 31 under current funding rules.
What’s the state doing?
Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved temporary emergency funds to continue issuing SNAP benefits weekly during the federal shutdown.
He’s said the program will last at least until the end of November, unless the government shutdown ends before then, and supply $37.5 million per week in benefits. The payments will work out to a quarter of the recipient’s monthly SNAP benefits every week. For instance, someone getting $400 of federal benefits per month will get $100 per week through the state program.
Where can I find food?
There are several places to turn for immediate food support in Hampton Roads.
The websites of Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Virginia Peninsula Foodbank have detailed lists of food pantries in their respective parts of Hampton Roads.
THRIVE Peninsula is among them. Besides its free market, the pantry also offers a weekly food distribution in the Denbigh area of Newport News. No appointment is needed, though proof of residency is required. Residents can simply show up on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. to pick up food.
In addition to major regional food banks and neighborhood pantries, community groups are stepping in with appointment-based and walk-up distributions, meal programs and grocery-delivery aid.
- Rotating mobile markets are available across the Virginia Peninsula. Families can access drive-thru food distributions while supplies last and should check for updates each month.
- Many churches and community centers are hosting weekly grocery distributions and prepared-meal programs.
- Meals on Wheels programs across Hampton Roads offer delivered meals to eligible older adults and people with disabilities.
How can Virginians help?
York, the director of THRIVE Peninsula, said the pantry is highly dependent on community support. The group is seeking food donations, financial contributions and volunteers to help expand hours and meet growing demand.
“Food pantries and food banks are not set up to provide resources at that scale, and so it would be overwhelming and we would not be able to fully meet that need, which means that families would skip meals and not be able to,” York said.
In addition to financial support, some pantries accept donations of shelf-stable items, such as rice, pasta, canned meats and vegetables, peanut butter and shelf-stable milk.
Pantries also rely heavily on volunteers to stock shelves, unload deliveries and assist families at distribution sites.
THRIVE Peninsula, for example, uses about 280 volunteers each week. Residents can sign up for one-time shifts or make regular weekly commitments, and groups such as workplaces or student organizations are also encouraged to get involved.
