COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. — Food pantries across Virginia are seeing a surge in demand as the government shutdown threatens to cut off critical SNAP benefits for hundreds of thousands of residents.

At the Colonial Heights Food Pantry, volunteers worked diligently on Friday to fill baskets for families in need, with demand nearly doubling compared to two years ago.

"We served 100 families today, yesterday we served about 150," said Warren Hammonds, executive director of the food pantry.

The pantry is already feeling pressure from furloughed government employees, including military personnel, who are turning to food assistance during the shutdown.

"We love being here for all these families that need us, but I hate seeing the increase just keep, keep, keep getting bigger and bigger," Hammonds

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