Setting the Table

Setting the Table

The Setting the Table campaign will fund the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore’s new headquarters in Virginia Beach.

Joan P. Brock Headquarters

Healthy Food Distribution Center

The new headquarters is designed to strengthen our ability to provide nutritious food, improve operational efficiency, meet growing demand, and create a more connected and transparent experience for volunteers, partner agencies, donors, and the community. It represents a long-term investment in hunger relief infrastructure that will serve our region for the next 40 to 50 years.

$30M+ Committed | $35M Project

The campaign has secured more than $30 million in commitments toward the $35 million project. The site has been acquired, all required local approvals have been received, and we are currently in the architectural design phase and finalizing construction documents.

We anticipate breaking ground in early 2027, with construction expected to take approximately 18 months.

Completing the campaign will allow the Foodbank to move into its new headquarters without taking on project-related debt. Every investment in the campaign expands the Foodbank’s ability to serve more neighbors with nutritious food.

 

A New Home for the Foodbank

The Joan P. Brock Headquarters will bring the full work of the Foodbank together under one roof, creating a home for our organization and the community that supports it, while serving as the center of our operations and supporting our Eastern Shore and Western Tidewater branches.

“Headquarters” gives the building a clear and lasting identity. Whether someone is volunteering, attending a meeting, visiting the Foodbank, or hearing about the facility in the news, the Joan P. Brock Headquarters immediately identifies the building as the home of the organization.

“Healthy Food Distribution Center” describes one of the headquarters’ most important functions and reinforces the Foodbank’s continued shift toward nutrition as a central part of hunger relief.

Naming the headquarters for Joan P. Brock recognizes the significant investment that helped make this project possible and establishes her legacy as part of the Foodbank’s future. Joan’s commitment to health and nutrition is reflected throughout her philanthropy, making the Healthy Food Distribution Center a natural extension of the work she has supported across our community.

What the New Headquarters Will Make Possible

The new headquarters will strengthen the infrastructure behind hunger relief and increase the Foodbank’s ability to:

  • Get more food to more neighbors through a stronger, more efficient distribution network.
  • Accept more donated food from community and industry partners.
  • Increase our purchasing power to bring in more fresh produce and lean protein.
  • Expand refrigerated storage to support more nutritious, perishable foods.
  • Increase access to nutritious foods, including fresh produce and lean protein.
  • Meet growing demand for food assistance.
  • Make the work of the Foodbank more visible by connecting offices, operations, and education within a single transparent environment.
  • Strengthen partnerships with healthcare providers and community organizations.
  • Create shared spaces where the community can gather, learn, and collaborate.
  • Improve disaster response during hurricanes, flooding, and other emergencies.
  • Serve our region for the next 40 to 50 years.

What the Move Means for Neighbors

Neighbors will continue accessing food through the same network of partner agencies and programs. The new headquarters increases the Foodbank’s capacity behind the scenes, allowing more nutritious food to reach more neighbors. It strengthens the infrastructure behind hunger relief so our communities see more food available, not changes in how they receive it.

A Building that Reflects Our Mission

The headquarters is guided by the concept of Visible Nourishment: the belief that the work of feeding our community should be seen and understood rather than hidden behind warehouse walls.

The design will connect offices, operations, volunteer spaces, and community areas, making the people, food, and systems behind the Foodbank’s work more visible. The building itself will become an educational experience, helping visitors understand the scale and coordination required to move more than 26 million pounds of food through our region each year.

The building reflects our belief that hunger is a community problem requiring a collective solution. We want people to come inside, see the work for themselves, and understand where they fit into that solution.

For more information, contact our

Chief Development Officer at (757) 314-4560.