RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- After a state of emergency was declared last week due to concerns that the government shutdown would cause Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to run out by November, Governor Glenn Youngkin has outlined a new state-funded program to help Virginians in need.

In a press conference held on Tuesday, Oct. 28, Youngkin explained that the state has prepared a parallel system -- referred to as Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) -- to provide citizens with food assistance if the government shutdown continues into November.

"This is not easy," Youngkin said. "We are creating a parallel food assistance program, or system, that, in fact, is going to step in where the federal government is not able to."

If the government shutdown has not end

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