Emergency alert: Millions Face Hunger as SNAP & WIC Benefits Stall During Shutdown
Updated: October 30, 2025
The federal government entered a shutdown on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass the 12 annual appropriations bills or agree on a short-term continuing resolution (CR). As a result, funding for key nutrition programs has been disrupted or is at risk of lapsing.
the scale of the crisis
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
In FY 2025, SNAP provided food assistance to about 1 in 8 U.S. residents, averaging $191 per person per month. Thirty-nine percent of SNAP recipients are children. (USDA)
Federal funding for SNAP will end on November 1, 2025, according to a notice on the USDA website.
The USDA maintains a $6B contingency fund, but it has not been released. With the average monthly cost of SNAP benefits totaling $8 billion, this reserve would cover only about 60% of one month’s benefits.
In prior shutdowns, missed SNAP benefits were reimbursed after government operations resumed. This year, the USDA has stated it will not reimburse states that use their own funds to cover benefits during the shutdown.
PBS reported that “...at least half of all states say they won't be able to extend food assistance to make up the gap”.
In Central Appalachia, only Virginia has announced state support to continue benefits into November, with an initiative called Virginia Emergency Nutritional Assistance (VENA). See the next section for a state by state breakdown as of the time of this alert.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
In FY 2024, WIC provided an average of $61.05 in monthly food benefits per participant. (USDA)
Federal funding for the WIC program was already extended through October with a $300M infusion drawn from tariff revenues. (AP News)
Without further emergency funds, WIC is expected to run out of money in early November 2025.
A coalition of 44 national organizations has requested an additional $300 million that would help sustain WIC through much of November. (NWICA)
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
The NSLP is expected to continue operating through the government shutdown.
There seem to be no immediate funding shortages for free and reduced-price lunch programs, but state reimbursements may be delayed if the shutdown extends into November. (FRAC)
The Numbers in Central Appalachian States
AFN table developed using 2024 US Census Bureau population data, and 2024 USDA FNS data on SNAP and WIC
United States
42M people (over 12% of the U.S. population) receive SNAP benefits; 39% are children.
6.7M people receive WIC benefits; approximately 50% are children.
North Carolina
1.4M people (12.7% of the population) receive SNAP — higher than the national average.
238K receive WIC (2.2% of population)
North Carolina has not allocated emergency funding for SNAP in November.
NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson is among those suing the administration over food assistance funding.
See the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust’s fact sheet on the impacts of federal budget cuts to food assistance in North Carolina.
Virginia
839K people (9.5% of population) receive SNAP — below the national average.
107K receive WIC (1.2% of population).
Virginia has declared a state of emergency, allowing it to set up a temporary state-funded food assistance program called Virginia Emergency Nutritional Assistance (VENA) – funded with state revenue surplus – that will fund the SNAP program through at least November 2025. (Gov press release on VENA)
Tennessee
718K people (9.9% of population) receive SNAP — below the national average.
138K receive WIC (1.9% of population).
Tennessee has not allocated emergency funding for SNAP in November.
Kentucky
556K people (12.1% of population) receive SNAP — below the national average.
105K receive WIC (2.3% of population).
Kentucky has not allocated emergency funding for SNAP in November.
KY Attorney General Russell Coleman has signed a letter urging to Senate asking for a “clean continuing resolution”.
Gov. Andy Beshear is among the state officials suing the administration over contingency funding for SNAP.
West Virginia
281K people (15.9% of population) receive SNAP — higher than the national average.
36K receive WIC (2% of population).
Governor Patrick Morrisey has not allocated emergency funding for SNAP in November. However, the governor announced a donation drive with matching state funding of up to $13 million to help food banks while federal supplemental food benefits are halted during the ongoing shutdown. (WV Watch)
WV Attorney General John McCuskey has signed a letter urging to Senate asking for a “clean continuing resolution”.
Ohio
1.4M people (11.8% of population) receive SNAP — below the national average.
179K receive WIC (1.5% of population).
Ohio has not allocated emergency funding for SNAP in November.
What Can Funders Do Now?
AFN recognizes that philanthropy’s role is not to replace government funding, nor does it have that capacity. That said, we have, in this moment, the means and the obligation to stand in solidarity with our communities and help mitigate some of the immediate impacts of the government shutdown.
Ways that you can help include:
Supporting Direct Food Access
Donate funds to local or regional food banks. Check the resources below to find food banks and pantries near you:
Feeding America’s Food Bank Directory, with information for each on counties served
Food Insecurity Resources in Central Appalachia by Appalachia for Appalachians
Leaning Into Mutual Aid and Collective Giving
To locate a mutual aid group, check the Mutual Aid Hub or the Stories tab in AFN’s Appalachian Helene Impact Explorer.
Place-based funders can consider purchasing and distributing emergency gift cards (as in this example from Seattle, distributed through its public school system).
Locate Community Fridges, Mini Pantries, and Blessing Boxes in your community, and donate staple items to those.
Leveraging Community Events
Connect with community events that are already happening to help those in need get access to food and other basic needs with dignity. We’re already seeing amazing and innovative approaches across the region, like:
“Reverse trick-or-treating” drives collecting food donations.
Neighborhood events distributing food bags to families.
If the federal shutdown continues, consider what other holidays and events are on the horizon that could be leveraged.
Staying Informed and Connected*
AFN First Fridays: Helene Recovery and Community Resilience | First Fridays at 10AM
On November 7th, we’ll focus on shutdown impacts and response.
Grantmakers In Health (GIH) Funders Briefing: Safeguarding Medicaid and SNAP in the Wake of H.R. 1 | November 10th at 12:00 PM
ReImagine Appalachia’s October 24th blog on the government shutdown
*We will update this list as peer and network calls are scheduled
Contacting Your Representatives
Reach out to your congressional representatives.
Federal:
State:
Virginia General Assembly
West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates
Kentucky General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly