Thousands Across Lynchburg Turn to Local Resources Amid SNAP Uncertainty

LYNCHBURG, Va. – With food assistance benefits in limbo as the government shutdown enters its 36th day, millions of Americans are left wondering if their next payment from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will be distributed to them this month. Throughout Lynchburg, locals have expressed both fear and anger about the shutdown’s impact on food benefits.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” said Dokota Greer, 26, who has been using local resources such as Food Not Bombs to help cover some of his family’s food and clothing needs. “No one should have to choose between being homeless and being able to put food in their belly.”

Lynchburg Food Not Bombs, a local chapter of the global mutual aid organization that promotes social change, sets up every Saturday at Miller Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide free food and clothing to those in need. Mariah Molina, who helps run the Lynchburg chapter of Food Not Bombs, says she expects to see food and clothing needs increase as the holiday season approaches. 

“We’re definitely prepared to see a lot more people,” said Molina, who helped found the local chapter back in 2021. “Even before the shutdown, we have been getting a lot of people, especially towards the end of the month. As it is, most of the food stamps are not enough for people.” 

In Virginia, the average household receives $296 in SNAP benefits per month. Nationally, the average household receives about $350 per month.

Across the country, nearly 42 million people utilize SNAP benefits to help cover grocery costs. According to data from the Virginia Department of Social Services, 12,295 people across Lynchburg City received SNAP benefits in September 2025.

Last week, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency that will use state funds from the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) initiative to help ensure food stamp benefits are distributed to the over 850,000 people statewide who receive SNAP benefits. Rather than the normal monthly distribution, benefits will be distributed weekly. The emergency declaration also listed the following parameters for when benefits will be issued:

• A household that typically receives SNAP benefits on the 1st of the month will now receive VENA benefits on Monday of each week. 
• A household that typically receives SNAP benefits on the 4th of the month will now receive VENA benefits weekly on Wednesday of each week. 
• A household that typically receives SNAP benefits on the 7th of the month will now receive VENA benefits weekly on Friday.  

While there is no timeline for how long the state will continue to support benefits, Gov. Youngkin said food stamps will continue at least through November if the government does not reopen.

Virginia is one of only a few states that have pledged to continue to fund their SNAP programs throughout the coming weeks as the government shutdown enters its sixth week. Louisiana, Maryland, and Vermont have also stated that they will continue to provide food benefits during the government shutdown.

On Friday, a Rhode Island judge ruled that the Trump administration must continue to fund SNAP benefits during the shutdown. Judge John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island said that the government must make full payments to recipients on Nov. 3 or partial payments by Nov. 5.

On Monday morning, the Trump administration announced that it would make partial payments to SNAP recipients this month, though it is unclear how much or when those benefits will be distributed.

But despite the continuation of food assistance programs, some Lynchburg residents are skeptical that partial or limited benefits will be enough to cover their needs. 

Amy Rutherford, who has been receiving food and clothing assistance from Food Not Bombs for the last two years, says that she has not received any SNAP benefits in over a month. She added that she has had to depend on community resources after nearly facing homelessness due to her job driving for Uber falling through due to insurance issues. Rutherford urged those who need help during hard times not to be afraid to reach out.

“You’ve got to help each other, because at the end of the day, all we have is each other,” says Rutherford. “Sometimes you don’t want to rely on someone else, but sometimes you might have to.”

Latashia Reid, a Lynchburg native, has relied on Food Not Bombs and other community resources to help feed herself over the last few years. While she is fearful that the partial SNAP payments will negatively impact her way of living, she is more concerned about the impact that it will have on children in the community.

“You have parents that can’t afford to pack their kids lunch,” Reid said. “I don’t like to see any child out here that goes hungry.”

As demand increases for food assistance due to the ongoing government shutdown, now the longest in American history, Food Not Bombs has seen an increase in community support, with donations and volunteers growing over recent weeks.

Kyle Babb, who recently started volunteering with Food Not Bombs a few weeks ago, says he was inspired to volunteer after seeing the effects of the shutdown.

“My heart’s always been in service for this community,” Babb says. “I have the means and time, so I figured I’d come out and put that to work.”

Babb added that as winter creeps in, the community’s needs will expand beyond food assistance.

“The needs are growing, and it’s not so much ‘I need food,’ now it’s transitioning to ‘I need my heat on,’” Babb noted.

Zach Brasseaux, who has been volunteering with Food Not Bombs since last fall, expressed his frustration with the government shutdown that has left tens of millions of Americans without food assistance. 

“Food is a human right,” Brasseaux expressed. “Everybody needs to eat, and I don’t think that should be determined by whatever you hit in the cosmic lottery.”

Jeffrey Robey, the director of nutrition programs for the Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living (CVACL), is anxious that the shutdown will lead to increased food insecurity across Lynchburg. Through CVACL, Robey has helped facilitate nutrition assistance programs such as Meals on Wheels Seniors, which provides food to older people in the Greater Lynchburg area. The program currently serves around 400 people in Lynchburg and surrounding counties.

Robey, a farmer and military veteran, has been selling his produce at the Lynchburg Community Market for over 15 years. During his time at the market, he has noticed the need for food assistance grow throughout the community.

“The need has grown exponentially,” Robey shared. “Our country became one of the richest places in the world. We just haven’t figured out how to service the population that we have adequately.”

Through the Farm Market Fresh program that he started, Robey provides a $50 voucher to those 60 and older who meet a specific income criterion. He says he began the program to give back to his community and to show as much human decency as possible.

“Everything that’s for personal decency should be a right in a democracy,” Robey said. “Healthcare should be a right. Being able to eat, to clothe, to have a place to live, should be a right.”

For a complete list of food resources, visit Lynchburg Food Assistance Resources