At Chesapeake Family Fun Day, Affordable Virginia Highlights Impact of Rep. Kiggans’ SNAP Cuts on Children
Chesapeake, VA — Affordable Virginia joined Mount Olive Church and RESET on Sunday for a Family Fun Day that provided 40 local families and their children with free school supplies as families prepared for the new school year.
During the event, Affordable Virginia raised awareness about the deep cuts to SNAP that Rep. Jen Kiggans supported as part of the Republican Tax Law. Since the law’s passage, SNAP enrollment in Virginia has fallen by approximately 100,000 people, a 13% drop.
“I am a mother who relies on SNAP to help put food on the table for my child, and I truly appreciate the support it provides,” said Kee, a local mother and SNAP recipient. “If I lost access to the program, it would be incredibly difficult for us to get by, especially when groceries and nearly everything else are so expensive. SNAP helps give my family the stability and peace of mind we need.”
SNAP does more than help families purchase groceries. Children who receive SNAP are often automatically connected to free school meals. When families lose SNAP benefits, that automatic connection can disappear, requiring parents to complete additional paperwork or potentially leaving children without access to free breakfast and lunch.
Nearly 708,000 Virginia students had access to free school meals during the 2025–26 school year. A Virginia family with two children could be forced to pay $1,170 or more during the school year if their children lose access to free breakfast and lunch.
“With the cost of groceries and everyday necessities going up, up, up, we should be lending a hand to struggling families not making it harder for them to feed their children,” said Emily Yeatts, Virginia State Director for Affordable Virginia. “It is simply cruel to deny our kids access to the food they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Affordable Virginia is calling on Rep. Jen Kiggans to restore SNAP funding and protect children’s access to nutritious food both at home and at school.”
