Coronavirus Local 

Support Our Neighbors Struggling with Food Insecurity

HRM Staff , , ,

As people struggle with food insecurity due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Foodbank has been a beacon of hope, distributing food to people who might otherwise go hungry. Since mid-March, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has distributed the equivalent of 2.3 million meals and has seen an 88% in the number of people served through their mobile pantries and partner agencies. In April alone, 52% of the families served were new faces of food insecurity, neighbors who have not needed the Foodbank’s services in the past.
The Foodbank’s Mobile Food Pantry Program is distributing food in high-traffic spots across the peninsula and they are working with partner agencies to ensure people receive the food they desperately need. The team from the Foodbank’s Culinary Training Program is preparing breakfast and lunch grab-and-go bags for children throughout our local area. The Foodbank has also hosted several large-scale public food distribution events to help individuals and families struggling to locate healthy meals..
If you are struggling to get the food you and your family need, please visit the Get Help page on the Foodbank’s website to locate a mobile food pantry or partner agency that can help. Please call prior to visiting to confirm hours of operation, as distribution plans change quickly and wi thout much notice.
During this same time, food donations have decreased by 30% compared to 2019, the equivalent of 440,000 meals. Our neighbors need us. You can support those who are struggling by helping the Foodbank in one of the following ways:

  • Make a monetary donation to help purchase truckloads of supplies. Every dollar you give can provide four meals to people in need.
  • Host a virtual food drive through YouGiveGoods and online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Costco, etc. You can ship items directly to the Foodbank.
  • Drop food donations off at their Hampton headquarters at 2401 Aluminum Avenue. All donations are quarantined for 72 hours before they are available to be distributed.
  • Give of your time and volunteer. Contact the Foodbank’s Volunteer Coordinator, Jessica Ponce, at jponce@hrfoodbank.org or 757-596-7188 to learn more about their special participation requirements and enhanced safety protocols implemented during this time of high-risk virus transmission.

For additional information on any of these options, contact Tracy Hansbrough at thansbrough@hrfoodbank.org.