None
EN
Food pantries brace for strain as government shutdown deepens
['Romelo Styles', 'Erin Holly', 'John Hood', 'Kurt Williams', 'Web Staff', 'Margaret Kavanagh']
Homepage
For many in Hampton Roads, that’s not the case — and local food pantries say a prolonged government shutdown could make matters worse.
The Southeastern Virginia Food Bank, which supplies pantries like Morgan’s, has already lost $700,000 in funding this year.
At the same time, food insecurity in the region has climbed from 1 in 10 people to 1 in 8, according to food bank officials.
“We would spend about $5 million in food and turn that into $36 million worth of product,” said Christopher Tan, executive director of the Southeastern Virginia Food Bank.
“They lose the job, they can’t contribute, and they may end up having to come and use the food pantry themselves.”As the shutdown continues, food pantry leaders fear a perfect storm: less funding, fewer donations and more families in need.