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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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