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 325 partner agencies and programs.
USDA Commodities
The Foodbank is a Commonwealth 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.
Food Rescue Program
This is an initiative to collect prepared and perishable food from 164 area grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, and discount retailers to distribute immediately to the hungry. Annually, the Foodbank collects nearly 5 million pounds through this program.
For more information, please contact Leonna Benson.
Mobile Pantry Program
This new system of distribution serves food to our neediest communities, while coordinating with our partner agencies and other social service organizations to determine delivery locations. This program is hugely successful in providing a means for individuals and families to receive food when they cannot travel to an agency, or their local agency is at-capacity. During fiscal year 2011, the program distributed over 618,000 pounds of food to over 93,000 individuals who either could not travel to an agency or their local agency was at capacity.
For more information, please contact Terry Ellis.
Click here to view stats from last year.
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, this is the nation's largest food program, available to all families and individuals with gross income below 130% of the federal poverty level. With that said, only 28% of people who qualify for help actually receive SNAP. Perhaps they are not aware of the initiative or are apprehensive about requesting government assistance. We urge individuals and families to take advantage of this program. It has been created to offer supplemental support for those who are struggling. For decades, the Food Stamp Program has been providing modest food subsidies for the working poor, the unemployed, single parents, and the disabled. With even small amounts of SNAP aid, individuals then require less help from the Foodbank, so we can then serve more people. Every dollar spent on food from SNAP creates $1.84 of economic activity, employing people in agriculture, manufacturing, and retail.
For more information about SNAP, or to find out if you are eligible, please contact Kweneshia Johnson.
Justine's Clothes Bank and Tasley Thrift Store
The Foodbank refers our neighbors in need to social services to receive new clothing. Our branch location on the Eastern Shore also operates a thrift store to meet the needs of the area’s struggling residents and to generate modest income for the Foodbank.
Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Program
Local gardeners are encouraged to plant an extra row of produce and contribute that part of their harvest to the Foodbank 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. The Foodbank 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.
Child Nutrition
For information about our Child Nutrition programs, click here!