Washington County Public Schools understands that the ongoing federal government shutdown may cause uncertainty for some of our families. We want to remind you that breakfast, lunch, and CACFP afterschool meals are provided at no cost for all WCPS students through our division wide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Students can count on receiving healthy, nutritious meals at school each day.
We also recognize that families may have concerns about access to food outside the school day. To help, several community partners provide a backpack-style program that offers easy-to-prepare food items for elementary students to take home from school over weekends and during school breaks. Families with children in elementary school who are interested in participating can contact their child’s school for more information on how to sign up.
In addition, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) program – a state-funded initiative temporarily providing benefits to Virginians previously enrolled in SNAP whose federal benefits have been disrupted. Benefits are scheduled to begin November 3, with additional support directed to food banks across the state.
If your family experiences food insecurity, please know there are also local food resources available through area food banks, churches, and community organizations.
Food Resources
Abingdon Faith in Action
276-628-4813
798 Hillman Hwy – Abingdon, VA 24210
Located behind St. John’s Lutheran Church, Abingdon Faith in Action operates the Stone Soup Food Pantry serving Washington County residents. Clients can shop there once a month and will receive a $25 gift certificate for clothing and shoes to use at New Life Thrift Shop – A Ministry of Faith in Action in Abingdon. Additionally, FIA also provides emergency financial assistance to families for rent and utilities as funds are available through an application process, as well as helping those who are uninsured obtain medicine in emergency situations. FIA also hosts the Crossroads Medical Mission bus monthly.
Food Pantry Hours: Monday & Friday – 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Tuesday – 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Feeding Southwest Virginia
276-628-9266 (Fax: 276-628-3974)
21452 Gravel Lake Rd – Abingdon, VA 24210
Located off Exit 17 in the Abingdon Distribution Center is the Abingdon Harvest Home Community Kitchen, which provides three home cooked meals to-go three days a week:
Tuesday - Thursday: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (They also have a mobile food pantry; you must call for times and locations)
Hunger & Help Line – Call 540-299-0004
Text: 276-250-4500
Email: hungerandhelp@feedingswva.org
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00pm
After Hours: Call 211
Highlands Fellowship
276-628-3297 (Fax: 276-628-1011; Bristol Campus: 276-669-7400)
22417 Watauga Rd – Abingdon, VA 24211
Located off Route 75, clients can visit once per month for food assistance.
Open Wednesdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (closed 5th Wednesday of the month; closed if Washington County Public Schools are closed)
Clothing – Free clothing closet to assist families in need
First Assembly of God
276-669-3016
1400 Lee Hwy - Bristol, VA 2420
Food is distributed Wednesday at 10:00 am after Bible Study, until the last person is served.
Clothing will be given out at this time as well.
Mendota Food Pantry
2562 Mendota Rd – Mendota, VA 24270
Located at the Mendota Community Center, food distribution is on the fourth Thursday every month from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (If distribution day falls on holidays or there is no fourth Thursday, distribution will be on the third Thursday).
Southern Manna Soup Kitchen
110 Town Square – Glade Spring, VA 24340
Hot meals on Friday, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
It’s a God Thing One Way Ministries
276-475-3318
1004 South Shady Ave – Damascus, VA 24236
Produce & Dairy: Wednesdays 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Produce: Sundays 12:30 pm
Food Box: 3rd Saturday of the month, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Damascus Senior Center
276-475-5232
209 Legion St – Damascus, VA
Wednesday 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Bristol Faith in Action
276-466-8292
1556 Euclid Ave – Bristol, VA 24201
Tuesday thru Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Pleasant View United Methodist Church
276-628-6323
18416 Lee Highway – Abingdon, VA
Monday thru Friday 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Abingdon Farmer’s Market
276-698-1434
www.abingdonfarmersmartket.com
100 Remsburg Dr – Abingdon, VA 24210
Participating vendors will match up to $25 when using your EBT card.
April thru November: Saturday – 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
Tuesday – 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Winter Market: First and Third Saturday – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Fellowship Baptist Church
14221 Ravenwood Dr., Meadowview, VA
First Tuesday of the month: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) Frequently Asked Questions:
How will the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) effort work? Current SNAP recipients (as of 10/29/2025) will receive a weekly comparable state-supported emergency food assistance payment based upon existing eligibility for the SNAP program. VENA benefits will be issued via the existing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that SNAP recipients currently hold.
How often will benefits be issued? VENA benefits will be issued weekly, not monthly, in hopes the federal shutdown will end soon. For example: if a household normally receives $200 for a monthly benefit, a $50 benefit will be issued on a weekly basis. Recipients and households should adjust to this new schedule and plan accordingly.
What days of the month will benefits be issued? Under normal issuance, SNAP households receive their monthly SNAP benefits at one time on the 1st, 4th, or 7th day of the month based upon the first letter of their last name. VENA will be issued on a weekly basis on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday (according to the existing staggered issuance schedule).
For example, if:
*A household that normally receives SNAP benefits on the 1st of the month, will now receive VENA benefits on Monday of each week.
*A household that normally receives SNAP benefits on the 4th of the month will now receive VENA benefits weekly on Wednesday of each week.
*A household that normally receives SNAP benefits on the 7th of the month; will now receive VENA benefits weekly on Friday of each week.
Where are the funds coming from? The State of Emergency allows the Governor to expand emergency funds under sum sufficient authority to protect the health, welfare, and safety of Virginians. Due to Virginia’s prudent financial fiscal management, we have available budget surplus to reduce disruptions in food access and ensure that Virginia’s families in need remain supported during the federal shutdown.
How is this emergency initiative different than the existing SNAP program? SNAP benefits are funded entirely by the federal government. VENA is a state-run emergency relief effort. To recipients and retailers, this should operate similarly to how SNAP beneficiary households receive their monthly benefit. However, the backend coordination is complex and challenging to set up.
What about funds that localities typically spend on the administration of the SNAP program? The administrative costs of VENA will be paid entirely by the Commonwealth, separate from SNAP. The Commonwealth and VDSS are actively collaborating with localities and local departments of social services (LDSS) on managing the administrative costs associated with SNAP during the federal shutdown.
How long will VENA last? The Governor has publicly stated the effort should continue at least through November. This state-supported effort, distinct from SNAP, uses Virginia’s budget surplus to prevent disruptions in food access and ensures Virginia’s families in need remain supported during the federal shutdown. However, this is a stopgap solution: once federal funds for SNAP are authorized and released, VENA assistance efforts will end, and SNAP benefits will be fully restored.
Washington County Public Schools remains committed to supporting our students and families – both inside and outside the classroom.