Government Shutdown Resources
This page is designed to list information and resources for families impacted by the federal government shutdown.
Food Banks Serving Montgomery County | ||||
Agape Center | 1175 Cambria St., Christiansburg | 12-4pm | Fridays and 2nd & 4th Wednesdays | *ID needed |
Salvation Army | 1125 Roanoke St., Christiansburg | 11am-12pm | Daily | *ID, proof of residency and income needed |
Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry | 706 Harding Ave., Blacksburg | Mon/Tues: 4-5:30pm; Wed/Thurs 10-11:30am | *Blacksburg & McCoy residents only | |
ELIAS Lay-Ministerial Association | 1870 Big Spring Dr., Elliston | Tuesdays | 11am-12pm | |
For Your Table | 825 Park St., Christiansburg | 10am-12pm | Saturdays | |
MCEAP Pantry | 400 West Main St., Christiansburg | 10am- until gone | Tuesdays & Thursdays | *Food on shelves outside |
New River Valley Community Fridge | 305 Washington St. SW, Blacksburg | Available 24/7 | ||
Prepared Meals | ||||
Northside Presbyterian Church | 1017 Progress St. NW, Blacksburg | Mondays | 6-6:30pm | |
Christiansburg Presbyterian Church | 107 W Main St., Christiansburg | 4:30pm- until gone | Tuesdays |
In the face of the suspension of federal SNAP funding, please share the following information and resources through your networks to support food access in our community:
· Families can use any leftover SNAP benefits from October during November.
· The Virginia Fresh Match program allows people to double the value of SNAP benefits spent on fruits and vegetables. Find participating retailers here.
· This November, Virginia Fresh Match is launching "Harvest Special," whereby SNAP customers get $20 in free fruits and vegetables when they shop at participating farmers markets, no matter what they spend, and SNAP customers also get 75% off produce at participating grocery stores from 11/19-11/26. Visit https://www.virginiafreshmatch.org/news for more information.
· Virginia is working on Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) to address the government shutdown. Individuals enrolled in SNAP as of October 29, 2025, will receive a food benefit payment issued on their EBT card. The benefits will be uploaded weekly, instead of all at once. If all goes well with standing up this new system, recipients could receive benefits as early as 11/3, 11/5 and 11/7. Additional information on VENA can be found on the VDSS website and through VFHY here.
· Find your nearest food pantry by visiting www.vafoodbanks.org.
· Find a list of local food pantries here (not sure information is up to date).
· To get help with other household needs in Virginia, visit 2-1-1 or text CONNECT to 247211.
· You can also call or email Feeding Southwest Virginia's Hunger and Help Line: 540 299-0004, hungerandhelp@feedingswva.org
· While the Virginia Department of Social Services is still enrolling people in SNAP and other assistance programs during the government shutdown, new SNAP application approvals are not included in the State Emergency Food Assistance Program.
· For households with children, remember that school meals are a low- or no-cost way to stretch your budget and connect kids with the nutrition that they need. For more information, visit your school website or contact your division’s school nutrition director here.
· Interested in learning more about the current state of SNAP? Check out these recent resources:
· What Is SNAP? And Why Does It Matter? (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)
· States Brace for SNAP Funding to Stop During Shutdown (Civil Eats)
· Experts explain impact of expiring SNAP benefits, share resources to help (Virginia Tech News)
· How to help SNAP recipients as the shutdown drags on (CNN Business)
· Federal Government Shutdown - Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA)