Affordable Virginia Joins Reset in Costume Giveaway in Spite of Ghoulish Tariffs

Virginia Beach, VA – Aspiring superheroes, princesses, witches, and ghouls joined Affordable Virginia at RESET Inc. in Chesapeake on Friday to pick their costumes ahead of Halloween. 

Families came to pick up free costumes after tariffs have affected the cost of everything from costumes to candy in Hampton Roads. A National Retail Federation study found that 79% of families expect to pay higher Halloween prices this year due to tariffs.

It is day 27 of the shutdown, and Rep. Jen Kiggans and Congressional Republicans still refuse to compromise with Democrats to include a safeguard in the budget for permanent health care tax credits, with working families in Hampton Roads continuing to bear the brunt of the shutdown. Virginia is among the most-impacted states by the shutdown, and combined with tariffs increasing the cost of groceries, it’s becoming harder to get by. Over a million people in Virginia struggle with food insecurity, and food pantries may not be able to keep up with demand as the shutdown continues.

“At this costume giveaway, we saw what real community looks like: neighbors coming together so every child could share in the joy of Halloween,” said Starlett Eaton, Community Volunteer with RESET Inc. “Families are working hard and facing higher costs, yet they continue to show up for one another. That’s what gives me hope. Events like this remind us that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. RESET is about building partnerships that strengthen families, support neighborhoods, and remind us all what it means to care for our community.”

“This year, families are paying more for Halloween, and with the holidays quickly approaching, they aren’t anticipating any miracles,” said Emily Yeatts, Affordable Virginia Campaigns Director. “Rep. Kiggans has repeatedly shown us that she’s not concerned about working families. This isn’t just about expensive candy; it’s about expensive everything, and the only ones getting ahead are billionaires. We are urging Rep. Kiggans to show up for her constituents, stop the never-ending tariffs, and make the health care tax credits permanent. They deserve a break!”