HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — Multiple events and programs are working to tackle hunger in Hampton Roads this summer.
Drive-thru food distribution in Virginia Beach
Every Wednesday from 4:30 - 6:30 pm, a drive-thru food distribution event is held outside The Gathering at Scott Memorial United Methodist Church at 409 First Colonial Road in Virginia Beach. No ID is required. For more information, call 757-428-3720.
Ann Douglas is the coordinator of that program. She said "In the last six months, we’ve had probably an increase every week."
Chris Tan, the president and CEO of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore says the need is great but the resources that were available during the COVID pandemic are limited or were eliminated.
"During COVID, we had a lot of relief from the government. We had unemployment, an easier way to get unemployment. We had stipends and things like that," said Tan. "We had rental and landlord eviction moratoriums, and all of those have gone by the wayside. SNAP emergency allotment was the last one to happen in February. So, our lines are actually as long or longer than they were during COVID, because the resources available to families are nowhere near what they would be then."
Tan also said donations are often lower during the summer months.
Local organizations collaborate to host food distrubution
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, in collaboration with Food Lion and Mercy Chefs, will tackle hunger in Portsmouth on Saturday, June 17 at the Food Lion at 2012 Victory Boulevard.
The Foodbank says according to the City of Portsmouth's Poverty Study, the city has a higher rate of poverty, 18%, than both the Commonwealth, 10.6%, and the US, 13.4%.
The partnership aims to create a convenient hub where individuals can access needed food items, including fresh produce, protein and shelf-stable pantry items. The event will also connect people with support services, programs, and referrals available in the community to those who may need them.
The Foodbank says the last distribution of this kind was in May, and served more than 200 families in under 90 minutes.
The event is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Summer Food Service Program
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is also participating in the Summer Food Service Program, where meals will be provided to all children without charge.
The meals will be provided Monday through Friday on a first come, first serve basis at the sites and times as follows:
EASTERN SHORE
- June 20 - August 25: Eastern Shore Boys & Girls Club
- 24577 Mary N. Smith Road (Accomac)
- Breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Lunch 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
NORFOLK
- June 20 - August 18: Grandy Village Boys & Girls Club
- 3017 Kimball Terrace
- Breakfast 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Lunch 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
June 20 - August 18: Southside Boys & Girls Club, Berkley Unit
- 701 Berkley Avenue Extension
- Breakfast 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- June 20 - August 18: Young Terrace Boys & Girls Club
- 804 Whitaker Lane
- Lunch 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Afternoon Snack 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- June 26 - August 25: The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of Hampton Roads
- 1401 Ballentine Boulevard
- Breakfast 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
- Lunch 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.
PORTSMOUTH
- June 20 - August 25: Portsmouth Boys & Girls Club
- 5905 Portsmouth Boulevard
- Breakfast 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
- Lunch 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
SUFFOLK
- June 26 - August 18: Suffolk Boys & Girls Club, Forest Glen Unit
- 200 Forest Glen Drive
- Breakfast 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Lunch 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Local farmers markets to host food donations
Another organization in Hampton Roads is working to combat hunger by encouraging people to help those who cannot afford meals by donating food.
The Old Beach Farmers Market (OBFM) is teaming up with the Kings Grant Farmers Market and the Ghent Farmers Market to collect food donations. It's part of the groups' "Farmers Markets Giving Back" initiative, which aims to raise awareness about those in our community facing hunger.
The food collections come at an important time: the start of summer, when kids are particularly at risk since they're not receiving food from school, OBFM says.
You can participate in Farmers Markets Giving Back by donating food from Thursday, June 15 to Saturday, June 17. The details are as follows:
THURSDAY, JUNE 15
- Donations will be accepted from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 873 Little Neck Road in Virginia Beach (Kings Grant Farmers' Market)
FRIDAY, JUNE 16
- Donations will be accepted from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 730 Spotswood Avenue in Norfolk (Blair Middle School)
SATURDAY, JUNE 17
- Donations will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 620 19th Street in Virginia Beach (Old Beach Farmers Market)
For more information, click here.
