SNAP Food Assistance To Continue: Manassas Shares Resources

MANASSAS, VA — Manassas residents receiving SNAP benefits will continue receiving them despite the federal government shutdown, the city says.

On Tuesday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced details of a Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance initiative in response to the federal government's shutdown halting federal funds for SNAP benefits in November. Youngkin had issued an executive order to support SNAP after declaring a state of emergency.

SNAP recipients as of Oct. 29 will receive a weekly state-supported emergency food assistance payment based on their existing eligibility for SNAP. The benefits will be given through the existing electronic benefit transfer card that SNAP recipients use.

According to the City of Manassas, residents normally receiving SNAP on Nov. 1 can expect the first state-supported payment on Nov. 3. Those receiving benefits on Nov. 4 will get payments on Nov. 5, and those receiving benefits on Nov. 7 will receive payments that day. The payment amount is expected to be the same, according to the city.

The state is planning to continue SNAP payments through November or when the federal government shutdown ends.

In addition to the SNAP assistance, Youngkin announced $1 million to support Virginia's food banks. Food banks and pantries are facing increasing demand amid the federal government shutdown leaving some employees furloughed and others without a paycheck, in addition to federal funding for SNAP pausing in November. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia are pursuing a lawsuit against the Trump administration for not using emergency funds to continue federal SNAP funding in November, CNBC reported.

According to the city, food banks available to support residents in need are:

• House of Mercy Food Pantry (8170 Flannery Court): Open Monday through Friday, offering groceries, hygiene items, and emergency supplies.
• SERVE Campus of Northern Virginia Family Service (10056 Dean Drive): Offering fresh and non-perishable foods, case management, and family support.
• Bethlehem Lutheran Church Food Pantry (9740 Sudley Road): Offering weekly food distributions and community meals.
• Manassas Baptist Church Food Pantry (8800 Sudley Road): Offering food assistance and neighborhood outreach.
• CFH East End Food Pantry (9021 Centerville Rd, Lot 6A): Food is distributed on every other Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with emergency walk-ins available by calling 571-201-6226.

Manassas City Public Schools also offers a dinner program providing free, healthy dinners to students aged 2 to 18. The program runs Mondays to Thursdays, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Osbourn High School cafeteria. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade already receive free breakfast and lunch through the Community Eligibility Provision at MCPS.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks and 60,000 local meals programs across the country, estimates that nearly 34 million people, including 9 million children — about 1 in 6 Americans — are living with food insecurity. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.