VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — When most of us open the refrigerator or freezer, we expect food to be there. For many in Hampton Roads, that’s not the case — and local food pantries say a prolonged government shutdown could make matters worse.

At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Food Pantry in the Hilltop neighborhood, Director Patricia Morgan has been serving families for two decades. But she says the need has grown sharply.

“The end of September, we served 88 families, in total making it 309 individuals,” Morgan said.

Neighbors often come in after sudden hardships — such as job loss, medical emergencies or an unexpected crisis.

The Southeastern Virginia Food Bank, which supplies pantries like Morgan’s, has already lost $700,000 in funding this year. At the same time, food insecurity in the regio

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