Oct. 29, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: The federal government shutdown threatens to halt programs for crucial food aid – like SNAP and WIC – starting Nov. 1. This means that around 828,000 Virginians will be left without assistance – or 10% of the population. In Rockbridge County, where I go to college, the statistics are similar. In 2022, over 9% of its population were reliant upon SNAP benefits.
In response, Gov. Glenn Younkin (R) declared a state of emergency starting Oct. 23. He plans to use state funds to preserve benefits lost for his constituents. But, this stopgap will likely be insufficient to cover all the need. Rural Virginia, already plagued by food deserts, poor public transportation, and access to food banks, faces unique challenges. Without SNAP, many families will struggle to afford groceries to feed their families.
For my community, these programs are not extras, nor are they negotiable. Investing in rural Virginia means making sure each family knows where their next meal is coming from. Our representatives in Congress must act now to end the shutdown and protect the programs that keep our communities strong. ANNA MARTIN Lexington
