The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; formerly food stamps) reduces food insecurity and supports the health of our most vulnerable neighbors: children, seniors, veterans, and working families. SNAP helps protect our communities and the local economy.
Myth: Cost-sharing with states can equitably balance federal and state responsibilities. An idea under discussion.
Fact: A SNAP cost-share would impose a double financial burden on Virginia:
This double impact means less funding for counties and cities across Virginia, and greater challenges for our state budget.
Virginia example: A proposed 10% cost-share would create a $352 million gap in Virginia’s biennial budget, risking food insecurity for more than 800,000 Virginians who rely on SNAP.
Protecting SNAP is crucial for maintaining food security and avoiding economic strain. Cuts would not only hurt vulnerable households but also harm the Virginia economy.
Myth: The charitable food assistance network (food banks, pantries, and programs) can easily fill the food gap if cuts to SNAP funding are approved in the farm bill.
Fact: The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and our partners are currently distributing more than 31 million pounds of food (about 27 million meals) each year to more than 170,000 individuals per month. This is a historic high in our 43 years of food banking.
Even a 10% cut in SNAP funding in the upcoming farm bill would eliminate $25 million in SNAP dollars for individuals across the Food Bank’s service area. This means 6 million lost meals for our neighbors and could mean that the Food Bank needs to source and distribute 22% more food than we currently do. It’s untenable.
Protecting SNAP is critical to protecting the capacity and resiliency of the Food Bank’s network, while supporting financial stability for thousands of people across our region
For individuals and families across our service area, SNAP is timely, targeted, and temporary—but its impact is immeasurable. Cuts would leave countless Virginians, especially children and seniors, without food security. Protecting SNAP strengthens Virginia’s families and businesses.
Contact your elected officials and urge them to protect SNAP. Share the message: “Strengthen SNAP, strengthen Virginia.”
The farm bill is the largest piece of federal legislation for food and farming. It impacts access to nutritious food for the millions of people in the United States facing hunger.
As grocery prices rise and supply chain disruptions continue, lawmakers must come together to pass a bipartisan farm bill that supports farmers, food banks, and the people they serve.
Add your voice: Tell Congress to address the hunger crisis by passing a strong farm bill.
