Affordable Virginia Distributes 100 Gas Cards as Rising Fuel Costs From Iran War Squeeze Hampton Roads Families
Chesapeake, VA – On Thursday, Affordable Virginia and community nonprofit RESET Inc distributed more than 100 gas cards to families during RESET’s weekly food distribution. The giveaway provided immediate relief to Hampton Roads residents struggling to afford transportation, groceries, and other basic necessities. Inflation surged to 3.7% in September 2026, driven largely by gas prices.
The ongoing war in Iran has contributed to rising fuel costs, with gasoline prices increasing 9.1% in September alone. Today in Hampton Roads, gas costs over $4.20 per gallon, up from $2.90 a year ago. Congress has repeatedly debated whether to rein in the war in Iran. While recent attempts to force an end to the war passed in the House of Representatives by a slim margin along mostly partisan lines, similar efforts have failed in the Senate as recently as September.
“I came today because gas prices are through the roof. Everyone I know is struggling with grocery prices and gas prices,” said Patricia Corum from Virginia Beach. “It wasn’t this bad a year ago, or two years ago. Everything going up all at the same time is really putting people in a bind financially. Something has got to give.”
For RESET Inc, rising diesel prices are making it more expensive to operate the refrigerated truck it uses to pick up and transport purchased and donated food throughout Hampton Roads. Virginia’s average diesel price reached $6.28 per gallon on October 18th, 70% above its prewar level.
“We’re just trying to get food out to the community, and the cost of filling up our diesel truck keeps making that harder,” said Sabrina Davis of RESET Inc. “Every extra dollar we spend on fuel is a dollar we can’t put toward feeding families, and more and more families need our help because the cost of everything including groceries just keeps going up.”
