As Virginians head to the polls next week to decide whether to enshrine reproductive rights in the state constitution, the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund (BRAF) disclosed a sharp increase in requests for financial help. From June 2025 to June 2026 the nonprofit aided 1,920 people seeking abortions, distributing roughly $1.2 million for procedure costs, travel, lodging and childcare.
Out‑of‑state patients drive demand
More than 25% of callers now come from outside Virginia, primarily from North Carolina, Georgia and Florida, where recent laws limit abortions to six or twelve weeks. BRAF director April Greene explained that patients often must arrange time off work, secure childcare and gather funds before they can travel to Virginia for care.
Funding pressures grow
Since its founding in 1989, BRAF has assisted over 15,000 individuals and allocated $6.3 million in total support. Over $4 million of that was spent in the four years following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that ended federal abortion protections. However, the organization now faces a shortfall as donor giving has fallen by $10,000‑$15,000 per month.
“The economy is hitting everyone, and our donors aren’t immune from that,” Greene said. A surge of contributions in the summer of 2022 helped BRAF build a reserve fund, but the recent dip threatens its ability to maintain the current weekly funding budget.
Implications for Virginia voters
Greene noted that Virginia’s upcoming ballot referendum could make the state a permanent access point for abortion care, similar to Maryland, which has protected reproductive rights. “We are really trying to remind folks that being able to access that legal right is just as important,” she said, urging voters to consider the long‑term impact on patients who rely on assistance.
While the fund’s donor base contracts, the need for aid continues to rise, underscoring how rising living costs and restrictive laws in neighboring states are shaping Virginia’s role in regional reproductive‑health access.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
