What is the Foodbank? The Foodbank is a warehouse or “bank” where recovered, contributed or purchased food is collected, sorted and distributed to more than 500 agencies and programs throughout a 3,500 square mile service area of Southeastern Virginia. These agencies include shelters, church pantries, senior living centers and area Kid’s Cafes which then prepare and serve the food. Food may also be provided directly to those in need.
Everyday the hungry turn to the Foodbank and the Foodbank relies on public generosity to help feed those in need. There are three primary ways to help:
• Donate money towards the purchase of food. For every dollar donated, the Foodbank can assemble and distribute up to $8 worth of groceries.
• Donate time by volunteering in the office, warehouse or distribution sites. • Donate food through food drives.
The Foodbank prides itself on being good stewards of funds received, in that 96.4 cents of every dollar goes directly to the programs and services that feed our neighbors in need. Those served by the Foodbank in the current fiscal year has increased from approximately 250,000 to 322,000 due to the economic downturn. And the faces of hunger may not be who you think:
• Only 2% of those served are homeless • 32% are children under the age of 18 • 42% are the working individuals • 24% are senior citizens
We are very fortunate as members of PCA First Settlers Region in that food is not an issue for us. Let me correct that....a lack of food is not an issue. While we think about DE’s, wheels, tires or upgrades to our Porsches, approximately 322,000 of our fellow citizens in Southeastern Virginia are seeking help with life’s most basic necessity of food. Until you have seen a mother standing in line with her children to eat or a father crying when he receives a box of food because he can’t provide for his family, you can’t fully appreciate the good fortune we enjoy and the power we hold to help others.
I am hopeful that FSR‘s membership will embrace the Foodbank and learn more about the organization. I am more than happy to arrange a tour for anyone interested of the Foodbank on Tidewater Drive in Norfolk. Additionally, there may be a Fun Run at a future date to the Eastern Shore Branch of the Foodbank.
Please consider giving time, food or money. All donations remain in the area. You can make a difference!
About the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia works to provide solutions to hunger and certain consequences of poverty in our community by promoting food recovery by means of acquiring and distributing food, clothing and related products to those in crisis in our community. The Foodbank also provides community leadership and education on issues of hunger.
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia (FSEVA) operates the following programs with the hope of ending hunger and economic disparity:
Warehouse Distribution Program: Except for USDA commodities, this program includes all food and grocery products from food drives, purchases, and donations from manufacturers and supermarkets. This is the heart of the Foodbank - where millions of pounds of food are sorted, boxed, and delivered to more than 500 partner agencies.
USDA Commodities: FSEVA is a State of Virginia contractor for the distribution of USDA commodities to designated agencies. This source of food includes quality meats, fish, canned and packaged fruits and vegetables, rice, beans, pasta, and peanut butter.
Fresh Food Initiative: This is an effort to collect prepared and perishable food from over 100 area restaurants, hotels, caterers, country clubs, and hospitals to distribute immediately to the hungry at on-site feeding agencies.
Kids Cafe: FSEVA has established over 25 Kids Cafes, wonderful after-school feeding programs for disadvantaged latchkey children. Because FSEVA's Kids Cafes are conveniently located in low-income neighborhoods, participating children can walk or bicycle to these sites after school. Over 76,000 children in FSEVA's area receive free or reduced school lunches - a reliable indicator that hunger and food insecurity regularly threaten their respective lives.
Senior Supplement Food Program: Like childhood hunger, hunger experienced by seniors can have a lasting and life-altering effect. Each month, FSEVA provides low-income seniors with highly nutritious food items, particularly towards the end of the month when most food budgets are low or depleted.
Justine's Clothes Bank and Tasley Thrift Store: FSEVA's clothes bank distributes new clothing to the poor and to agencies serving the poor. FSEVA's Foodbank on the Eastern Shore also operates a thrift store to meet the needs of the area's poor and to generate modest income for the Foodbank.
Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Program: Through a working partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, local gardeners are encouraged to plant an extra row of produce and contribute that part of their harvest to FSEVA and its member agencies to use in their feeding programs.
Community Gardens: A terrific source of vitamins and an alternative to processed foods, Community Gardens are promoted in areas of low-income housing. FSEVA serves as a mentor to the residents of the communities to plan, plant, care for, and harvest a garden that is shared by everyone who participates.
