Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a new food assistance program designed to help Virginians whose federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not arrive in November due to the government shutdown.
The program, called the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) initiative, is a temporary state-run program created from scratch to provide food benefits to eligible recipients after Youngkin declared a state of emergency on Oct. 23 and promised that the Commonwealth would step in to provide hunger relief.
During a news conference on Oct. 28, he outlined how it will work: VENA will provide weekly emergency food benefits to current SNAP recipients beginning in early November. The benefits will be issued weekly on recipients’ existing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards while federal SNAP funding is paused.
For example, a household receiving $200 per month will now receive $50 each week until the federal government reopens, according to the news release from Youngkin’s office.
Traditionally, SNAP benefits are distributed on the 1st, 4th, or 7th day of the month, depending on the first letter of the recipient’s last name. VENA distributions will take place on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, according to their place in the usual SNAP schedule.
The first distribution is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3, which means a two-day delay for the first group accustomed to receiving benefits on the 1st of each month. The second group will receive their benefits on Nov. 5, and the third on Nov. 7.
“I fully understand not just the disruption but the hardship that the delay of two days, from Saturday to Monday, will cause. And that delay from Tuesday to Wednesday will cause,” Youngkin said during the conference.
To assist with the hardship these delays may cause, he has allocated an additional $1 million in state funds to food banks to offset the disruption before VENA begins distribution, he said.
Local food banks have warned of a looming food crisis in central Virginia due to the shutdown, federal layoffs and other factors.
Take action
Virginia SNAP beneficiaries will receive state-run food assistance during the federal government shutdown
Virginia is providing food assistance to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries during the federal government shutdown, starting in November. For more information about the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance program (VENA), including FAQs, read the news release from the City of Charlottesville.
If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank maintains a searchable map of pantries providing food and other items here. You can also dial 211 to find more food banks and pantries or chat or email Virginia 211 for assistance.
Monetary donations are the best way to support local food pantries to ensure they can stock up on nutritious foods for those in need, they said.
If you’re able, you can donate to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry or Emergency Food Network. Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry also accepts food donations and volunteers. Read more information about these opportunities here.
While we can’t cover every story that’s important to you, we do our best to be responsive to your needs. We use tips from readers to choose which stories to cover, to incorporate information into broader reports or to help us decide how to grow Charlottesville Tomorrow. Here’s where you can tell us what you think we should be covering.
More about food assistance in central Virginia
Federal government shutdown strains local food network and is likely to get worse — here’s what to know and how you can help
With possible federal aid delayed and demand soaring, local food pantries share their concerns and ways to help.
Two nonprofits align to combat food insecurity in Orange County amid federal funding cuts
As a new member of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s Food Pharmacy program, the Orange County Free Clinic’s patients now have greater access to food and nutrition information.
Local food banks brace for SNAP eligibility changes that are predicted to impact thousands in Virginia
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, which supplies food to local pantries, has seen more people in need of its services due to cost of living increases, said Les Sinclair, communications manager.
More local News
Over the next 20 years, Daniel Fairley hopes philanthropists will work together
This local grantmaker believes that while well-intentioned, funding or creating a new nonprofit can be counter-productive. He recommends a different strategy.
Over the next two decades, this architect wants walkable and mixed-use neighborhoods
“You don’t want this only precious, little urban jewel,” said Stoneking. “You want a living machine.”
In 20 years, Sunshine Mathon hopes that entrenched income inequality in central Virginia will be a thing of the past
Over 20% of the city of Charlottesville lives in poverty — which has been true for the past three decades, according to the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
UVA Emergency Department sees a surge of injuries due to last week’s icy conditions
“The remarkable thing is just the concentrated nature of it. We might see these numbers over the entire winter of slips and falls on ice, but we’re getting them all in this singular week, which puts a little bit of strain on resources,” said Andrew Muck, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UVA School of Medicine.
With federal funds in limbo, the City of Charlottesville approves stopgap funding to keep previously unhoused community members in their homes
The $234K in approved funding will cover expenses for local permanent supportive housing residents — many of whom are elderly or have disabling conditions — for the next six months.
