Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images News / Getty Images
As the federal government shutdown continues, Virginia is beginning to roll out the first round of Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) funds to help families access food across the state. Among the local participants is the Jon Henry General Store in New Market, which continues to process food benefits and assist residents navigating the changes.
“There’s been a lot of confusion, but we’re still processing SNAP benefits,” said owner Jon Henry, who has been in regular contact with state agencies and advocacy groups to stay informed about program updates. He emphasized that understanding the evolving rules is critical to ensuring customers relying on assistance can continue to buy essentials.
One key program that remains unaffected by the shutdown is Virginia Fresh Match, a state-funded initiative that helps EBT cardholders stretch their food dollars. “If you spend even a dollar using your EBT card, you qualify for the discount,” Henry explained. “You can cover the rest in cash—it just needs to start with that EBT transaction.”
Despite ongoing uncertainty in Washington, Henry and other community partners are working to ensure that no one in the Shenandoah Valley goes hungry. “A lot of folks have really stepped up to find solutions,” he said. “Different agencies are coming together to make sure people can still get food and use their benefits here in New Market.”
SOURCE: WHSV3