Foodbank Urges Support for Partner Agency Grant

Senate Finance Committee Considering $5 Million Allocation in State Budget

Norfolk, VA – January 31, 2023 – The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is urging Virginia’s Senate Finance Committee to support a proposed $5 million allocation to the state budget. The funds would be used to provide grants to local, community-based organizations that operate food pantries as affiliate partner agencies of member food banks of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.

Organizations would need to demonstrate that grant funds will be spent directly to acquire food and must apply to their regional Feeding America food bank for funds up to $25,000.  Funding will be prioritized based on demonstrated community need criteria established by the Department of Social Services.

“We could not distribute millions of meals to hundreds of thousands of individuals without our partner agencies, and they have been just as challenged as we have been by the increased need for healthy, nutritious food, says Leah Williams-Rumbley. Senior Directory of Advocacy for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. “What’s more, we anticipate this need will only increase with COVID relief measures coming to an end. If this language is included in the budget as stated, then this could help our partner agencies mitigate the anticipated rise in demand.”

For more information, please contact Senior Director of Communications David Brandt at 757-644-5860 or dbrandt@foodbankonline.org. 

About the Foodbank

For more than 40 years, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore has provided more than 360 million meals to those in our community who face hunger. Through our programs, facilities, and large network of community partners, we work to eliminate hunger daily. Our understanding of the need for a long-term solution has led to the creation of a refreshed strategic plan aimed at moving Hampton Roads closer to achieving the mission of eliminating hunger for those we serve—not only for the day, or for the week, but for a lifetime. For up-to-date information on the Foodbank, visit www.foodbankonline.org, Facebook, or Twitter.

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