LYNCHBURG, Va. — As the government shutdown stretches into its second month, millions of Americans have seen their SNAP benefits halted. In Virginia, state leaders and local organizations are stepping in to help families bridge the gap.
One of those efforts is happening at the Lynchburg Community Market, where a new “Harvest Special” is giving SNAP recipients a little extra help this November.
The market already matches up to $50 in SNAP benefits year-round. But thanks to Virginia Fresh Match, shoppers now receive an additional $20 bonus to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the month.
For families like Megan Waller’s, that boost makes a big difference. “Especially realizing that we might not be getting the benefits. I have a four-year-old who is on the spectrum, so she’s very picky about what she eats and she only eats certain things,” Waller said. “So finding out that they are doing the $20 bonus, I was just like, ‘Okay, at least I know I can go and find fruits and vegetables that she’s going to eat.’”
Market manager Darrius Slaughter said the program is already having a visible impact. “We’ve already gotten about double the customers we normally would,” Slaughter explained. “It also shows me that this is going to have a huge positive impact on our community. There’s so many families that I have talked to that can now stock their fridges with produce and veggies all because of this bonus that we have thanks to Virginia Fresh Match.”
The benefits extend beyond shoppers. Local farmers who sell at the market are also seeing increased business as more families use their SNAP dollars to buy fresh produce.
Anyone using SNAP can stop by the market’s information window to receive their tokens on any day the market is open. And even if the government reopens, Slaughter confirmed the $20 Harvest Special will continue through the end of November. Video below from WSET.