RICHMOND — Forty-two percent of Virginia households experienced food insecurity at some point between May 2025 and May 2026, according to a new statewide study.
The inaugural Virginia Hunger Study found that food insecurity — defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life — affected households across the commonwealth. In Feeding Southwest Virginia’s service area, 55% of households experienced food insecurity, the highest rate among the state’s regions.
The rate was higher among households with children. In Southwest Virginia, 70% of households with children experienced food insecurity.
“Behind the finding that Southwest Virginia has the highest rate of food insecurity in the Commonwealth are thousands of children, families, and seniors who live with hunger,” said Pamela Irvine, president and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia. “Our region’s 55% food insecurity rate requires a powerful call to action.”
The study included interviews with more than 5,600 Virginians and was commissioned through a partnership between the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, the Virginia Department of Social Services and No Kid Hungry Virginia. The survey was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, an independent, nonpartisan research organization, with support from researchers at Virginia Tech.
The study is the first statewide Virginia-only survey to measure food insecurity using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s standard 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module, a nationally recognized method for assessing food insecurity.
The USDA ended its annual state-level food insecurity estimates in 2025 after nearly three decades of publishing the data.
“The survey findings reflect that hunger is an urgent and growing threat for too many Virginians,” said Eddie Oliver, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. “The charitable food system is doing everything it can to meet growing demand amid higher food prices and declining donations, but we can’t do it alone.”
Survey results identified several factors associated with food insecurity, including higher grocery prices. Eighty-seven percent of food-insecure households said higher-than-usual prices for groceries and food were causing major financial strain, compared with 42% of food-secure adults.
Rural areas had the highest food insecurity rates in Virginia, although fewer Virginians live in those areas. Black and Hispanic Virginians experienced food insecurity at roughly twice the rate of their white neighbors, according to the study.
Food insecurity rates varied across the state. Southwest Virginia had the highest rate at 55%, while Northern Virginia had the lowest at 32%. The study also found that one-third of Virginians said the 2025 federal government shutdown had a negative financial impact on their household.
Food insecurity also was associated with health challenges. Seventy-six percent of food-insecure adults reported having been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition, while 60% said they had visited an emergency room or urgent care facility at least once during the previous year.
Only 27% of food-insecure Virginia households were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according to the study. While some households are ineligible based on income, researchers identified barriers including stigma, lack of awareness and perceived administrative burdens.
The charitable food system, including more than 1,100 neighborhood food pantries, provides assistance to many households experiencing food insecurity. Half of households facing hunger reported accessing charitable food.
The study was released as SNAP participation in Virginia had declined by more than 110,000 people since the enactment of H.R. 1 in July 2025, according to the organizations behind the study.
“Every Virginian deserves access to the food they need to live, work and thrive, yet too many families across the Commonwealth are struggling to put food on the table,” said Virginia Department of Social Services Commissioner Duke Storen. “At a time when federal policy changes are reshaping access to nutrition assistance, this study underscores what is at stake.”
The study’s release comes amid concerns from food banks and other organizations about rising food costs, access to nutrition assistance and demand for charitable food.
“Together, we can — and we will — help Virginians meet their food needs and thrive,” Storen said.
-The New Castle Record
