Local agencies are reacting to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Tuesday announcement that Virginia will implement a state-level replacement for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

SNAP benefits, which help pay for groceries for about 850,000 Virginians who earn low incomes or are unable to work, are set to stop Saturday due to the federal government shutdown.

At a press conference at the state Capitol Tuesday, Youngkin introduced Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA), saying that the Commonwealth’s surplus will be used to fund the program, providing weekly benefits to recipients through the end of November at an estimated cost of about $37.5 million.

Beth DeLullo, director of the Shenandoah County Department of Social Services, said Tuesday that her office has ”r

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