Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

On rare occasions, it’s a little hard to pull a “welcome” out of my hat when I write new greetings every day. Today, for whatever reason, is one of those days. Maybe it’s because it’s cold, rainy, and overall dreary outside. Or it could be because my kid woke up at 2 a.m. sick to his stomach, and none of us got much rest after that. Or maybe, just maybe, I need a second Red Bull.

But whatever it is, I looked over today’s topics and, admittedly, felt even more blah. There’s nothing fun about people going hungry. The history highlight stems from a tragedy. And a job posting means there’s a current vacancy in a very special program. If that doesn’t tip your hat toward sunshine, well… it doesn’t mine, either.

If there’s a silver lining, I think it’s this: That’s where the story is right now, but that’s not where it ends. Friends, certain circumstances in our country might feel bleak at the moment—but brighter days are coming. Let’s get through the “now” hand-in-hand and welcome the better ones together. I’m so glad you’re here. 

Shoppers check out and get their groceries bagged during the grand opening of a Lidl grocery store, Thursday, June 15, 2017, in Virginia Beach, Va. Several Lidl stores opened across the nation on Thursday. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

By Michael O’Connor

Ariele Robinson works two retail jobs and recently got another in nursing taking care of the elderly. But it’s still not enough for the mother of four to get by in Richmond. 

“Whenever I get an extra $20 or $30, it goes to food,” Robinson said. “I go to Dollar General and try to get noodles, things for like $1.25 to stock up.”

Audrey Cunningham faces a similar situation in Tazewell County, where she and her fiance deliver Walmart groceries and take care of their three children. But with their van in the shop, their main source of income is on hold for the moment.

“We really want to get back to doing our deliveries to get money to buy food,” Cunningham said. 

The hardships faced by Robinson and Cunningham, who shared their stories on a recent press call, illustrates just how important it is for each of them, and the hundreds of thousands of others like them across Virginia, to get the federal food assistance they are entitled to through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

The ongoing federal government shutdown threatens to cut off this critical lifeline for families like these in November. Over 850,000 Virginians risk losing access to SNAP federal food assistance; that prompted a new food assistance system, the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance Program (VENA). 

Rather than monthly, the program aims to supplement benefits on a weekly basis starting Nov. 3.

Berkeley Plantation was built nearly 300 years ago in Charles City County. (Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress)

As Benjamin Harrison IV and his daughter, Hannah, attempted to close Berkeley Plantation’s second-floor windows during a July 1745 thunderstorm, a bolt of lightning struck and instantly claimed their lives.

Some visitors report hearing a child’s playful giggling echoing through the corridors. Others sense a jovial host in the dining room.

The Ghost and Hauntings Tour—one of the private specialty tours offered at the site—delves into the stories of Berkeley’s paranormal activities.

Job: UWGC Head Start Director

Location: Charlottesville, United Way of Greater Charlottesville

Salary: $80,000/year

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree or more in a relevant field: education, social work, management, or business. 
• Direct experience with supervision of staff, fiscal management, and administration.
• Experience coordinating services with multiple agencies, navigating differing priorities, and working with federal regulations.
• A background in Head Start is strongly preferred.

Job description on Indeed: “The Head Start director will lead the Head Start Oversight Team. This position requires a strategic leader responsible for the comprehensive administration of a multi-site/multi-partner Head Start and Early Head Start program. The Head Start director is responsible for the coordination of all delegate agencies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Additionally, the Head Start director supports delegate agencies with establishing and maintaining high standards of quality, operational excellence, and community impact.”

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