By Edmee CR Hasler
Contributing Writer
On Saturday, Nov. 23, Feeding Southwest Virginia convened a roundtable discussion with Sen. Mark Warner to tackle the urgent issue of food insecurity. The event brought together community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and representatives from across Virginia and North Carolina to explore strategies for combating hunger, a persistent challenge impacting millions of Americans.
The conversation highlighted a sobering reality: more than 47 million people in the U.S., including one in five children, face hunger regularly. In Virginia alone, one in nine residents experience food insecurity. Senator Warner emphasized the need for collective action, urging attendees to “raise our voices” and engage diverse communities, including faith-based organizations, in finding solutions.
“We have to reach beyond the usual suspects,” Warner said, noting the importance of broader awareness. “I’m not sure most Virginians realize the scale of this issue in their own communities.”
A key topic of discussion was the decline in food donations. Food contributions have decreased significantly, forcing food banks to purchase more food to meet growing demand. Factors such as lower agricultural yields, economic pressures on families, and rising grocery prices have contributed to the shortfall.
Warner contributed to the discussion, warning of potential policy changes that could threaten programs like SNAP. He mentioned proposals such as the “Food Thrifty Program,” which could result in substantial cuts to federal food assistance funding.
“If there’s a direct attempt to reduce or eliminate SNAP, schools and communities will need to speak out,” Warner said. A participant said, “The general public often misunderstands who relies on SNAP—the majority are elderly, disabled individuals, and children.”
The senator also noted that SNAP participation directly impacts the viability of school meal programs like the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows schools in high-poverty areas to provide free meals to all students.
Senator Warner also addressed the challenges of securing federal funding for anti-hunger initiatives. He explained that while direct appropriations are often difficult to obtain, tax policy changes might offer an alternative route for supporting food programs.
“Farm bills are front and center, but we need creative solutions,” Warner said. “If you have ideas—whether it’s related to food or other issues—this is an open forum. Don’t be shy.”
Warner noted the positive impact of policies like the now-expired Child Tax Credit, which significantly reduced childhood poverty and hunger during its brief implementation. He expressed a need to learn from such successes and ensure future initiatives are sustained.
Participants also highlighted grassroots efforts to alleviate hunger. A school administrator shared how local backpack programs, which send food home with students for the weekend, have expanded from serving 27 children last year to 45 this year.
One of the meeting’s central themes was the importance of expanding support to include caregivers and grandparents, who are increasingly stepping into parental roles. Participants emphasized that rethinking resource distribution could lead to more equitable and humane outcomes.
“Many of these kids are being raised by grandparents, and the need is growing,” they said. “We also rely on free school lunches and breakfasts, but the demand for snacks and additional support is higher than ever.”
“These are hard issues,” one speaker acknowledged. “But if the community comes forward with fairer ways to address this, we need to educate policymakers.”
Warner cautioned that looming federal budget cuts could threaten not only food assistance programs but also other critical services, such as education, infrastructure, and transportation.
“If funding for military, Medicare, and Social Security is preserved, domestic discretionary spending—programs like these—could face significant reductions,” he warned. “We have to be ready to advocate and prioritize.”
The roundtable closed with a renewed commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and innovation. Feeding Southwest Virginia and its partners vowed to amplify their efforts to address the food insecurity crisis, leveraging community voices and policy opportunities to drive change.
“This is not just a local issue; it’s a national epidemic,” said a Feeding Southwest Virginia representative. “Together, we can make a difference, but it will take all of us to ensure that no one goes hungry.”
