A new food drive kicked off in Virginia this week to support those feeling the pinch from paused federal food assistance. This initiative, called the Virginia Cares Initiative, connects residents with local food banks and makes donating easy by providing lists of needed items, drop-off spots, and hours.
To participate, simply visit the Virginia Cares Initiative website, fill in some contact details, and select a region to help. You’ll be matched with one of the seven regional food banks, which will pass your donations to more than 1,000 food pantries across the state.
On Monday, Virginia became the first state to secure food assistance for November, as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is currently paused due to a federal government shutdown. The new temporary program, the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA), is open to residents who were on SNAP in October.
Unlike SNAP, which provided monthly benefits, VENA offers funds weekly in smaller amounts, making meal planning tougher for recipients. Also, new participants can’t join this program until further notice. This leaves many, including federal employees facing food insecurity due to the shutdown, uncertain about their food situation.
“Virginia Cares Initiative helps our communities as we approach Thanksgiving,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. The initiative aims to support the nonprofits and organizations already stretched thin in providing emergency food.
Eddie Oliver, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, echoed this sentiment. “We’re facing a perfect storm of challenges. We appreciate the Governor’s support in helping food banks address the record demand,” he said.
While Virginia steps up, SNAP recipients outside the state are still in limbo. Recently, two federal judges ordered the government to maintain SNAP operations, and there’s partial funding for benefits announced by the Trump administration for November.
However, how much support SNAP recipients will get, and when they’ll see those benefits on their cards, remains unclear. Loading benefits can take weeks, delaying much-needed support.
Virginia’s first VENA benefits began last Monday, and a schedule for future distributions is available on the Virginia Department of Social Services’ website.
The Virginia Cares Initiative not only aids individuals but strengthens community networks at a critical time. With food banks experiencing unprecedented demand, this support helps ensure no one goes hungry, especially as the holiday season approaches.
