After 43 days of uncertainty, most Virginia residents who rely on funding from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) saw their access restored by Nov. 15.
During the federal government shutdown, however, many organizations in the Fredericksburg area scrambled to provide for those reliant on SNAP. At the same time, those organizations were negatively affected — not just by the shutdown, but also by rules implemented amid the impasse. These rules prevented many local organizations from finding new ways to help those in need.
The Fredericksburg Food Co-Op was one such organization that was stymied in its efforts to provide for the community. According to General Manager/CEO Suzie Grumko, the co-op had a plan to fund SNAP itself, but the community-owned grocer was stopped in its tracks due to a cease and desist order sent by the United States Department of Agriculture.
The USDA order, which was sent to many similar organizations across the country, claimed that programs that single out SNAP customers were illegal. According to Grumko, this came under the department’s equal treatment provision, which was originally intended to ensure fair treatment of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) customers by retailers.
“This administration has kind of twisted that [the provision] and said that we can’t treat them positively either, unless you have a waiver,” she said.
The co-op already has a waiver in place for its fresh match discount, which gives SNAP customers 50% off of fresh produce. However, without a waiver, it couldn’t make available any further discounts on food. At the time of reporting, the organization was working on finding a way to help recipients of SNAP’s Women, Infants and Children program and Section 8 housing.
Grumko acknowledged there would be a lot of administrative headaches to implement such a workaround but said it was “the right thing to do”.
The co-op also donated $5,000 worth of food to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and plans to help the organization through offering volunteer work from its employees.
In Stafford County, SERVE pantry ramped up its efforts during the shutdown by doubling its procurement budget to ensure that it had fresh food available for all comers. According to SERVE Executive Director Lee Cheney, over the course of four weeks, the emergency relief organization provided 75,000 pounds of food to an additional 1,058 individuals, which included assisting 42 government workers daily.
In addition to their main location at 15 Upton Lane, the volunteer pantry also operates mobile locations at Quantico, Stafford Hospital and local hotels.
Cheney said that this went beyond their normal supply and was paid for by the organization, noting that the situation was something that a pantry was not designed to deal with.
“We have never experienced this trifecta of challenges: a SNAP freeze, furloughed Government workers and Military families not able to provide food for their families,” Cheney said.
Back in Fredericksburg, The Table at St. George’s also increased the amount of food available to meet the needs brought on by the shutdown.
According to Ministry Leader Wendy Cannon, the fresh market pantry increased their operations at both their main market in downtown Fredericksburg and seven mobile sites, which support low-income communities and subsidized senior living.
The table operates every Tuesday in downtown’s Market Square, supported fully by grants and donations supported by St. George’s Episcopal Church. The event has run since 2013, and the market has been running in the square for the last four years since the COVID pandemic.
According to Cannon, the table averaged about 130 shoppers during the early part of 2025. The number increased to 150 during the summer and reached an all-time high in September with 174 individuals.
“There is a sense of people feeling a sense of scarcity,” she said. “We’re just here to assure people that we’re going to continue to do what we do.”
The organization purchases food through the Virginia Community Food Connection, which works with local farmers. St. George’s food supply is provided by the Flores family farm in Westmoreland County. Each week, the church buys between 30 to 50 crates of produce from the farmer and supplements with other suppliers of in-season fruits and vegetables.
During the shutdown, the table increased the amount of produce they purchased and also made use of donations of free greens from the Rappahannock Education Firm.
In addition to food, The Table also provides clothing, books and health checks from the nursing program at Germanna Community College.
The efforts have been appreciated, according to shopper Andrea Ramos, whose family relies on the table in order to supplement their paychecks. Ramos’ husband is the only one employed in the household, which includes three kids and three dogs.
“It really helps a lot,” she said. “They give some books, some vegetables. Those things have really helped us and blessed our lives.”
