Arlington County is sending $350,000 to the county’s largest food pantry in response to possible disruptions in food aid for thousands of residents.
The funding transfer is intended to expand the Arlington Food Assistance Center’s capacity to help the roughly 10,000 local residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is expected to go on pause beginning Saturday because of the government shutdown.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has announced plans to launch a new state-funded assistance program as a stopgap beginning on Monday, but local food pantries like AFAC are still preparing for a surge in demand as experts urge people in need to stay cautious and consider all available options for support.
“Food security is a fundamental need, and we are committed to ensuring that no Arlington community member goes without essential support during this uncertain time,” Anita Friedman, director of the Arlington County Department of Human Services (DHS), said in a press release today (Thursday). “This emergency funding reflects our values and our responsibility to care for our community.”
DHS plans to work directly with SNAP recipients to refer them to AFAC, if they aren’t already enrolled. Residents in need of support should visit the county webpages on food assistance resources and federal government shutdown resources, or call DHS at 703-228-1350.
Even before recent federal shakeups, the need for food assistance in Arlington had been on the rise for several years. The County Board allocated $750,000 in one-time funds to AFAC last November, but as of August of this year, the nonprofit was facing a budget gap of $891,000.
“We know that the effects of the federal shutdown extend well beyond current SNAP households, and many in our community are feeling the strain,” County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said. “Arlington County remains committed to standing with our neighbors during this time and connecting them to the resources they need.”
Some 7,200 households currently have active referrals with AFAC, but only 5,341 of those families visited the nonprofit last month. Despite intervention at the state level, AFAC CEO Charlie Meng told ARLnow that he’s still expecting a wave of people seeking assistance as SNAP comes to a halt.
“Since the Virginia programs were announced only days before the delay in SNAP payments, many questions remain, and a fear that payments will not come in on time,” Meng told ARLnow. “As a result, we expect this fear and confusion will still significantly increase the number of families coming to our doors. We must also remember that permanent, long-term cuts to SNAP and other support programs will take place in January 2026.”
As of last week, the nonprofit had already begun notifying suppliers to prepare for “large, additional purchases in the coming weeks.” It’s planning for more volunteer shifts, expanded service hours, and potentially additional distribution sites.
More from today’s Arlington County press release is below.
Arlington County is taking proactive steps to support residents who may be negatively impacted by a potential disruption in November of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The federal shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, is expected to result in delayed or unissued federal SNAP benefits for November. SNAP is a federally funded program administered by the Commonwealth of Virginia and managed locally by Arlington’s Department of Human Services. Because funding is determined at the federal level, Arlington County does not control when or how benefits are issued. While federal benefits will not be issued during the shutdown, the Commonwealth has announced that pro-rated weekly benefits will be provided to eligible households through state-administered resources, beginning in November. The Commonwealth will communicate directly with SNAP recipients regarding benefit distribution, and Arlington County will amplify those messages through local channels. The most up-to-date information can be found on the Virginia Department of Social Services website.
To help bridge the gap between pro-rated state-issued benefits and household needs, and in anticipation of potential continued disruptions, Arlington County has approved a one-time, emergency allocation of $350,000 to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). This emergency funding will allow AFAC to increase its capacity to serve additional SNAP-affected households in November and to boost AFAC’s overall capacity for the remainder of this fiscal year.
“Food security is a fundamental need, and we are committed to ensuring that no Arlington community member goes without essential support during this uncertain time,” said Anita Friedman, Director of the Arlington County Department of Human Services. “This emergency funding reflects our values and our responsibility to care for our community.”
DHS will work directly with members of households currently receiving SNAP benefits to make AFAC referrals for those not already enrolled. A list of AFAC distribution sites is available on the AFAC website.
While this emergency allocation is designated specifically to support current SNAP households, Arlington County recognizes that the ongoing federal shutdown has increased the need for food assistance and other essential resources across the community.
“We know that the effects of the federal shutdown extend well beyond current SNAP households, and many in our community are feeling the strain,” said Takis Karantonis, Arlington County Board Chair. “Arlington County remains committed to standing with our neighbors during this time and connecting them to the resources they need.”
Individuals and families in need of support are encouraged to visit the Food Assistance and Free Food Resources page of the DHS website, as well as the County’s Federal Government Shutdown Resources page for information. Arlingtonians may also call DHS at 703-228-1350 for additional Public Assistance resources and support.
