The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is carefully monitoring developments regarding the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in our community. We will continue to serve our community as effectively as we can for as long as we can.
Important updates
Our Foodbank headquarters at 800 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk is not distributing food at this time.
Many of our Partner Agencies have re-opened. Visit our Partner Agency Directory to search for food resources by zip code. Please check websites and call ahead of time for updates about individual distributions.
We will continue to post updates on our Mobile Pantry distributions on our COVID-19 response page and on social media.
Many of our Partner Agencies have re-opened. Visit our Partner Agency Directory to search for food resources by zip code. Please check websites and call ahead of time for updates about individual distributions.
Distributions for the Foodbank’s Eastern Shore Branch
Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia’s Eastern Shore Branch
24530 Coastal Blvd., Tasley, VA 23441
Mobile Pantry
Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon
Northampton High School
16041 Courthouse Road, Eastville, VA 23347
Visit our Partner Agency Directory to search for food resources by zip code. Please check websites and call ahead of time for updates about individual distributions.
Meals for seniors
If you or a someone you know is a senior citizen is in need of meals or other social services, please contact Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia 757-461-9481.
Meals for children
See our list of Summer Feeding Sites here.
Additional Resources
If you are in need of assistance beyond food as a result of coronavirus, please call the United Way’s hotline at 757-858-7777 or visit this page to complete an online form.
Donate to our COVID-19 Response page. We have collaborated with partners to identify the safest and most effective ways to get food where it is needed most, and your support for these efforts is critical. We are prioritizing our efforts to distribute food to vulnerable populations in our community most likely to suffer from food insecurity during the outbreak. These include seniors, children and low-income families. To direct your donation to our efforts on the Eastern Shore, please click here to donate.
Start an online food and fund drive. Whether you are raising funds as an individual or team, the Online Food and Fund Drive platform allows you to share your fundraiser with friends, family or coworkers, post or email updates and track your progress toward your goal. You are also providing a simple and secure way to accept donations, which come directly to the Foodbank.
Donate food at our headquarters: 800 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23504
Donations can be made Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please visit our donation door located on Tabb Street and ring the buzzer to alert someone to receive your donation. Please note that the Foodbank is not accepting visitors to the front of the building.
Town of Cape Charles Firehouse: Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
515 Mason Ave., Cape Charles, VA 23310
Stay informed on our Advocacy efforts. As we work to provide emergency food to seniors, children and low-income families impacted by food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges we face are unprecedented. As a nonprofit organization, we are seeing an exponential increase in people who need food, as well as sharp declines in food donations, lost revenue and higher costs. We need Congress to increase funding for nutrition programs, and we need this next phase of the economic stimulus package to include $60 billion in relief for charitable nonprofit organizations. We ask you to use this opportunity to tell your elected officials why the Foodbank and federal nutrition programs are important to your community. As stimulus legislation is being drafted and details negotiated, we ask you to share your voice in two ways by contacting your representatives and senators.
- Tweet to ask Congress to support #Relief4Charities.
- Email this message to your representatives in Congress and Senate or customize it to make it your own.
Email Congresswoman Elaine Luria
Email Congressman A. Donald McEachin
The House and Senate have passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to bolster the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak and address the severe impacts of the coronavirus on Americans’ personal safety and financial security.
Share our social media posts to ensure that those who need help and those who want to help can be informed of our evolving response to COVID-19.
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
We remain committed to serving our community during this time, and we are focusing our efforts on distributing food to the most vulnerable populations:
- Seniors with limited mobility experiencing food insecurity. Seniors are being encouraged to minimize their interactions with the public, so we will take precautions to avoid as much contact as possible while getting food to this population.
- Children who depend on federal nutrition programs such as free or reduced price breakfast and lunch, after-school feeding programs and Backpack bags. During the time schools are closed due to COVID-19 we expect the number of food-insecure children to double, which would mean there would be between 80,000 and 90,000 children experiencing food insecurity.
- Low-income families, which include individuals working multiple jobs to put food on their tables and may be more at risk if unable to report to work due to COVID-19.
The Foodbank has partnered with Mercy Chefs to serve 3,000 premade meals a day specifically targeted to seniors and children, which are the two most vulnerable populations impacted by food insecurity during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Foodbank is working with Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia and other community partners to deliver meals directly to seniors. In addition, the Foodbank is working with school feeding sites to supplement breakfast and lunch grab-and-go distributions.
FAQs
Can I come to the Foodbank to receive food?
The Foodbank’s Friday USDA Distribution has been suspended until further notice. The Foodbank is working with partners to implement modified distribution models to provide food safely to seniors, children and low-income families.
Many of our Partner Agencies have re-opened. Visit our Partner Agency Directory to search for food resources by zip code. Please check websites and call ahead of time for updates about individual distributions.
Distributions for the Foodbank’s Eastern Shore Branch
Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia’s Eastern Shore Branch
24530 Coastal Blvd., Tasley, VA 23441
Mobile Pantry
Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon
Northampton High School
16041 Courthouse Road, Eastville, VA 23347
See our list of Summer Feeding Sites here.
What measures are the Foodbank taking to promote the safety of staff, volunteers and individuals receiving food assistance?
The following precautionary measures have been put in place:
- Consistent, professional cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting of building interior including work spaces and common touch points
- Temperatures of staff and volunteers monitored twice daily by a healthcare professional on site
- Mandating the use of gloves for packing, sorting and distributing food
- Wearing face masks in any common space
- Encouraging social distancing
- Encouraging staff and volunteers to wash and sanitize hands often
Are you in need of volunteers?
For the safety of our most vulnerable populations we strongly discourage older adults and individuals with serious underlying medical conditions from volunteering at this time. All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
Click here to create a volunteer profile and register through our Volunteer Hub calendar. Volunteers will assist with sorting, packing, inspecting and/or boxing of food for community distribution. Volunteers must be able to squat, pivot, bend, and lift at least 35 pounds.
Volunteers are expected to bring and wear their own face mask and/or shield—they will not be provided by the Foodbank.
We have implemented the following safety procedures to allow volunteers to return to the Foodbank:
- Production layout accommodates social distancing
- Hand sanitizing stations are more accessible throughout the warehouse.
- All persons are required to wash and/or sanitize their hands before working.
- Work surfaces and common touch points are sanitized throughout the day.
- We limit the number of volunteers and Foodbank staff in an area.
- Adjusted access to the building minimizes traffic flow and person-to-person interaction.
- A medical professional is on-site to monitor the temperature of anyone who enters the building.
Two of the Foodbank’s COVID-19 Response strategic partners are also in need of volunteers. Mercy Chefs is in need of individuals who can plate/portion prepared foods that will be distributed to those in need. Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia is looking for drivers to deliver meals. As always, please volunteer only if you are healthy.
What is the most impactful way to help?
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is here for our clients every day, and in this time of need we will continue to serve the most vulnerable in our community.
Donations to the Foodbank will help provide much-needed, nutritious food to those in our community most at-risk of hunger–seniors, children, and low-income families. Click here to donate.
We are developing and adapting our response to the local situation, and as information changes we can commit to using your donations to deliver targeted support to the neediest of our neighbors.
Donate today to provide meals for seniors, children, and families in need.
Once COVID-19 community needs have been met, remaining funds and food will be used to support our ongoing hunger-relief efforts.
Are you accepting food donations?
Donations can be made to our Foodbank headquarters at 800 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23504 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please visit our donation door located on Tabb Street and ring the buzzer to alert someone to receive your donation. Please note that the Foodbank is not accepting visitors to the front of the building.
Please see our shopping list for most needed items. Personal hygiene items are needed as well.
Town of Cape Charles Firehouse: Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
515 Mason Ave., Cape Charles, VA 23310
Are you accepting prepared foods?
If you would like to donate prepared or packaged foods from your restaurant, please contact Leonna Benson, Food Rescue Program Coordinator, at 757-314-4573 or lbenson@foodbankonline.org.
How can I receive help beyond food assistance?
If you are in need of assistance as a result of coronavirus, please call the United Way hotline 1.757.858.7777 or click here to complete a form.
For more information on COVID-19, visit the websites below:
World Health Organization (WHO)
