Food Insecurity & Hunger: SNAP Update
Oct. 29, 2025
We’ve been receiving a lot of questions about the status of SNAP, the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In response, we’re sending out this special newsletter to share what we know as well as some ideas for how to help and where to find help:
SNAP CONTEXT
If you talk to any food pantry director right now, they’ll likely tell you that the need for food is so great that they are already at capacity in terms of what they can do. That’s why the recent news that SNAP benefits will not be distributed by the federal government starting November 1 is so daunting. Approximately 850,000 Virginians, 9.4% of the population, receive these food benefits, which also puts millions of dollars into the local economy through grocery stores.
According to Eddie Oliver, Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, in the Richmond Times Dispatch, “For every meal that food banks distribute, SNAP provides nine. There is simply no way that we can make up significant gaps or losses to that program.”
VENA
The good news is that Virginia is choosing to release emergency funds to cover those benefits with what is being called Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA). The state is planning to distribute those benefits weekly (rather than monthly like SNAP) “every week as long as we can,” according to the Governor in recent news reports. An additional $1 million is going to Virginia food banks to help mitigate delays in the roll out of VENA, which means food banks and food pantries are preparing for increased distributions as soon as this weekend.
According to news reports, this is how VENA will roll out:
The first third of beneficiaries will get their benefits on Nov. 3 rather than Nov. 1
The second group will receive their benefits on Nov. 5 rather than Nov. 4
The third group will receive theirs on Nov. 7, which is their usual distribution dates
Food Banks v. Food Pantries
Feed More is our region’s largest food bank. They purchase, warehouse, and deliver food to a network of 380 partner agencies, usually called food pantries, who distribute food in the community. This includes most church-based food pantries as well as the Chesterfield Food Bank and the Henrico Community Food Bank. You can find the full list of partners HERE. They also operate Meals on Wheels.
HOW TO HELP
We spoke with several food pantry directors and social workers who are gearing up to meet the need and here’s the advice they have for churches who want to help:
1. Start local: If you have a pantry at your church, give generously of your time and resources there. Consider a church-wide food drive and make sure to ask specifically for the food items are needed the most. Most pantries keep an updated list of high-need items that they may not be able to purchase through Feed More.
2. Think about the ministries you’re already involved in that might need support. For example, if you care for foster and kinship families, they usually receive food benefits and could use gift cards to their local grocery stores to help alleviate the stress of losing that resource. If you partner with a local school, especially in a low-income area, consider asking the social worker if they need resources on hand. They may prefer grocery gift cards over groceries as they often don’t have space for storing food.
3. If you don’t have a pantry but a church down the street does, ask how best to support them. They may need extra volunteers or for your church to run a food drive or make a financial contribution so they can leverage the funds. They may need extra space to store food. The key is to ask what is actually needed before you start! Don’t know where your local pantries are located? CLICK HERE to search.
4. Give to Feed More as they have buying power that can leverage your dollars. Food banks can take your $5 donation and turn it into 20 meals. The vast majority of their partner agencies who distribute the food they buy are churches, so you’re helping the local food pantries.
5. Pray! Let’s pray that our national leaders find a way to settle their differences so that those who are vulnerable do not suffer. Also, pray for those who are experiencing a lot of anxiety right now – both those who are struggling to buy food and for the leaders who serve them and are facing so many unknowns. Our region’s benefits workers are particularly overwhelmed right now.
6. As always, check in with your neighbors, friends, etc. It’s especially important to check in with federal workers who may be furloughed or who are working but not getting paid. You may not know who might be struggling right now and could use a little help from their friends.
7. Think about how to leverage your network. A food drive in your neighborhood, workplace, or your child’s school is a great way to tap into your existing networks and give people a meaningful way to love their neighbors together.
8. Be creative! A youth group could skip a meal (or eat a more simple one) and donate the money saved to Feed More to help others. A young adults group could skip their Sunday brunch and instead volunteer together at a food pantry. Think about ways that your church members can serve together in this month of giving thanks for our many blessings.
9. Stay informed. All the food banks and many of the food pantries post updates on their needs and volunteer opportunities on social media and their websites. Check there first to see what is needed before making a call. Localities like Richmond City are also posting benefits updates and where to find food on their websites.
WHERE TO GET HELP
Feed More:
Online Search by Zip Code: https://feedmore.org/get-help/
Hotline: 804.237.8617
Chesterfield Food Bank:
Online Info: https://www.cfboc.org/getfood
Henrico Food Bank:
Online Info: https://henricocommunityfoodbank.org/get-help
Hanover Pantries Calendar:
https://www.hanovercounty.gov/1237/Hanover-County-Food-Pantries
Help One RVA:
Online Database: https://help1rva.org/
Community Fridges RVA:
Online Database: https://www.rvacommunityfridges.com/fridges