Stafford County, VA
10/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/17/2025 11:26
Stafford County Issues Important Notice Regarding November 2025 SNAP Benefits
The Stafford County Department of Social Services is issuing this urgent public notice to inform all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients of the high probability of a delay or interruption in benefit issuance for November 2025, should the current federal government shutdown continue. October SNAP benefits were funded prior to the shutdown and have been or will be issued on their normal schedule. Due to increased demand at local food pantries and banks, Stafford County is asking all residents to consider making extra donations of food or money to local food banks and pantries.
More than 5,000 households, consisting of 12,200 family members, receive SNAP benefits in Stafford County. If the federal government reopens and passes funding this week, benefits should be issued as quickly as possible, potentially on time or with a minor delay to your usual disbursement date. If the government shutdown continues beyond October, November SNAP benefits will be delayed or may not be issued at all. Stafford Social Services has been instructed to prepare for a lack of federal funding and a potential lapse in state authorization to process payments.
What should SNAP recipients do now?
SERVE is Stafford County's food pantry. Food may be picked up at its 15 Upton Lane location across from the George L. Gordon, Jr., Government Center. For those who would like to make donations, donations may be dropped off at that location or the Porter and Howell libraries, Giant stores in Stafford County, and Present & Past Treasures next to Earl's True Value. SERVE partners with Mary Washington Healthcare to host a mobile produce pantry on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month in the Stafford Medical Pavilion parking lot of Stafford Hospital. You can also drop off or pick up food at the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, which helps provide nutritious food to over 31,000 people through its network of 152 community partners operating more than 260 food assistance programs. The food bank is located at 3631 Lee Hill Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22408.
Lastly, the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank has an app, FredFoodVA, that is available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store.
It is important to note that the state of Virginia and the Stafford County SNAP office remain open during this time and will continue to process applications and recertifications for October benefits. However, the approval of any new or ongoing cases for November benefits is dependent on federal government action.
More than 5,000 households, consisting of 12,200 family members, receive SNAP benefits in Stafford County. If the federal government reopens and passes funding this week, benefits should be issued as quickly as possible, potentially on time or with a minor delay to your usual disbursement date. If the government shutdown continues beyond October, November SNAP benefits will be delayed or may not be issued at all. Stafford Social Services has been instructed to prepare for a lack of federal funding and a potential lapse in state authorization to process payments.
What should SNAP recipients do now?
- Conserve and stretch current benefits: Visit https://www.myplate.gov page on the USDA website to find tools and recipes to help stretch SNAP-eligible ingredients.
- Monitor official communications: Check Stafford's website and Facebook pages daily for updates. The situation can change at any time.
- Explore the community resources listed here. Several organizations provide food to residents of Stafford County. Please follow this link to see a list of the names of the organizations, contact information, address, times of service and the assistance they provide. These contacts also take donations and offer volunteer opportunities.
SERVE is Stafford County's food pantry. Food may be picked up at its 15 Upton Lane location across from the George L. Gordon, Jr., Government Center. For those who would like to make donations, donations may be dropped off at that location or the Porter and Howell libraries, Giant stores in Stafford County, and Present & Past Treasures next to Earl's True Value. SERVE partners with Mary Washington Healthcare to host a mobile produce pantry on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month in the Stafford Medical Pavilion parking lot of Stafford Hospital. You can also drop off or pick up food at the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, which helps provide nutritious food to over 31,000 people through its network of 152 community partners operating more than 260 food assistance programs. The food bank is located at 3631 Lee Hill Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22408.
Lastly, the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank has an app, FredFoodVA, that is available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store.
It is important to note that the state of Virginia and the Stafford County SNAP office remain open during this time and will continue to process applications and recertifications for October benefits. However, the approval of any new or ongoing cases for November benefits is dependent on federal government action.
Stafford County, VA published this content on October 17, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 17, 2025 at 17:26 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]