Giving Tuesday 2025: Empowering Your Local Foodbank to Fight Hunger in Virginia
Giving Tuesday 2025 is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a chance to turn compassion into action, especially for neighbors facing hunger right here in Virginia.
This global movement kicks off the holiday giving season with a simple idea: generosity can transform lives. For the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, it’s an opportunity to rally support for families who rely on nutritious meals to get through tough times. Since 1981, the Foodbank has provided more than 400 million meals, but the need continues to grow.
More than 152,720 people in Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore are projected to be food insecure. That means one in eight neighbors struggles to put food on the table. Giving Tuesday donations can help close that gap.
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When Is Giving Tuesday 2025 and Why It Matters
Mark your calendars: Giving Tuesday falls on December 2, 2025, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
The day was launched in 2012 as a counterbalance to the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Instead of focusing solely on consumption, Giving Tuesday invites people to pause and invest in causes that matter. It’s a celebration of gratitude that extends the Thanksgiving spirit into the holiday giving season.
What started as a grassroots campaign has grown into a global phenomenon. Millions of people now participate by donating to charities, volunteering their time, or organizing community events. For local nonprofits like the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Giving Tuesday is a critical fundraising moment that fuels year-round hunger relief efforts.
Why Giving Tuesday Donations Make a Difference
Every dollar donated on Giving Tuesday directly supports families facing food insecurity in Virginia. At the Foodbank, your contribution goes further than you might think. Each dollar provides two nutritious meals, thanks to partnerships with local growers, bulk purchasing power, and efficient distribution networks.
Financial gifts enable the Foodbank to purchase fresh produce, dairy, lean proteins, and culturally familiar staples that improve health outcomes. These items are often the most difficult for families to afford, yet they’re essential for a balanced diet.
In 2024, nearly 7,000 volunteers helped the Foodbank distribute 24 million pounds of food, with 70 percent of it fresh! That’s made possible through donations like yours, which can add up quickly. When thousands of people contribute even modest amounts on Giving Tuesday, the collective impact becomes monumental.
Your Giving Tuesday donations also support programs addressing the root causes of hunger.
In 2025, your Giving Tuesday gift can go even further thanks to the generosity of Hall Toyota Virginia Beach | MileOne Autogroup. They will be matching donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000, doubling the impact of every contribution made to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore this year. That means your support on Giving Tuesday helps provide twice as many nutritious meals for families across our community. There’s never been a better time to give and make a difference.
Ways to Give: From Food Drives to Financial Gifts
There are several ways to support the Foodbank this Giving Tuesday. Whether you prefer hands-on involvement or a simple online donation, every action helps.
Host a Food Drive
Giving Tuesday food drives are a powerful way to rally your neighborhood, workplace, or faith community. You can create a themed campaign like “Fill the Pantry” or “Meals that Matter” to inspire participation.
If you need resources to host a food drive, visit our host-a-drive page for flyers, promotional materials, and guidelines on what items are most needed. When you host a food drive, you’re not just collecting cans, you’re building community connections and raising awareness about food insecurity.
Make a Food Donation on Giving Tuesday
If hosting a full drive isn’t feasible, you can still drop off items at one of the Foodbank’s local collection sites. The most needed items include:
- Canned proteins like tuna, chicken, and beans
- Whole grains such as oatmeal, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta
- Low-sodium canned vegetables
- Peanut butter and other nut butters
- Shelf-stable milk
Give Financially
Monetary donations amplify your impact. The Foodbank can purchase food in bulk at discounted rates, meaning your dollar stretches further than retail donations. Plus, financial gifts allow us to respond quickly to emergencies and seasonal spikes in demand.
Make a one-time donation or consider setting up a monthly gift to provide steady support throughout the year. Many employers also offer matching gift programs, which can double or even triple your contribution. Check with your HR department to see if your company participates.
How Your Support Helps Virginia Families
When you give on Giving Tuesday 2025, you’re funding life-changing programs that reach every corner of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
The Mobile Pantry program delivers fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins to neighborhoods where full-service groceries are scarce. These mobile units set up in parking lots, community centers, and church grounds, making it easier for families to access nutritious food without traveling long distances.
Food Hubs take things a step further by combining reliable groceries with on-site links to job training, health screenings, housing assistance, and budgeting classes. Take The Community Feed at Jordan-Newby, for example. Volunteer Gabriel Harper has seen firsthand how the hub creates more than just a distribution point by fostering connection.
Stories like these are made possible by donors who show up on days like Giving Tuesday. Your generosity doesn’t just fill stomachs; it opens doors to stability and hope.
Get Involved This Giving Tuesday
Ready to make a difference? Here’s how you can take action:
- Visit the Foodbank’s of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore’s website to donate or sign up to host a food drive.
- Follow the Foodbank on social media (@FoodbankSEVA) and share why you give. Personal stories inspire others to join the movement.
- Encourage friends and coworkers to participate collectively. Consider organizing a team challenge or setting a group fundraising goal.
Local action on Giving Tuesday 2025 builds a stronger, more nourished community. When you contribute, you’re not just supporting an organization, you’re standing with over 152,000 neighbors who deserve access to healthy food.
Your Generosity Changes Lives
The holiday giving season is a time to reflect on what we’re grateful for and to extend that gratitude outward. Giving Tuesday offers a meaningful way to do just that.
By supporting the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, you’re helping ensure no one in our community goes hungry. Whether you organize a Giving Tuesday 2025 food drive, make a financial gift, or volunteer your time, your contribution matters.
Join us this Giving Tuesday. Together, we can turn compassion into nourishment for every neighbor.
Ready to get started? Donate today or learn more about hosting a food drive at FoodbankOnline.org.