This nationally-recognized program distributes nutritious food to children at the end of the school day, before weekends and/or school breaks.

Students are identified by school personnel as being food insecure by a variety of criteria. More than 93,000 children in the Foodbank’s area are eligible to receive free or reduced-price school lunches – a reliable indicator that hunger and food insecurity regularly threaten their respective lives.

At present, the Foodbank serves 53 elementary schools in our area including schools in Tidewater and on the Eastern Shore. This year, we will distribute over 65,000 bags to over 3,400 students through this program.

The BackPack Program is currently held at these schools:

City of Franklin:

• S.P. Morton Elementary School

City of Suffolk:

• Booker T. Washington Elementary School
• Elephant’s Fork Elementary School
• Mack Benn, Jr. Elementary School

Isle of Wight County:

• Windsor Elementary School

Southampton County:

• Capron Elementary School
• Meherrin Elementary School
• Nottoway Elementary School
• Riverdale Elementary School

Sussex County:

• Sussex Central School
• Sussex Middle School

The Healthy School Market Program (HSM) brings a truckload of fresh produce to selected schools for a ‘pop-up market’ where participants can select from the fresh produce items available for distribution. Open to families with children enrolled in the host school, the HSM provides access to fresh produce as well as family engagement activities such as cooking demonstrations, health and nutrition education and SNAP outreach. This program promotes healthy eating behaviors, nutrition education, and parent engagement. The goal of the program is to engage the entire family, provide access to healthy, fresh produce and to remove the stigma associated with accepting donated food, creating an environment conducive to learning and growing.

The HSM is currently held at these schools:

City of Franklin:

• J.P. King Middle School

Southampton County:

• Capron Elementary School
• Riverdale Elementary School

The Healthy Food Pantry Program provides access to fruits and vegetables that are low in sodium, sugar and trans-fat and increases distribution of healthy food to individuals struggling with health-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. The USDA recognizes the correlation that exists between food security status and chronic health conditions among working-age adults living 200% below the federal poverty line. The Healthy Food Pantry’s purpose is to promote healthier lives by providing 50 pounds of nutritious food each month to individuals who are at an increased risk for negative health outcomes and health disparities, along with nutrition education, financial literacy, cooking demonstrations and peer support. The Healthy Food Pantry Program is held at East End Baptist Church in Suffolk. Please contact Tiara Sumner at 757-201-6281 if you are interested in enrolling.

This national after-school program was created by Feeding America™ and is administered locally by the Foodbank. It is a place where children ages 5 through 18 can go to receive free, nutritious evening meals in a safe, supportive environment. Kids Cafes are conveniently located in low-income neighborhoods so participating children can walk or bike to these sites after school. When school is out for summer break, kids can still access meals through our Summer Feeding Sites. For more information on the program, please contact Debbie Kleeger, Nutrition Manager at 757.314.4555.

Suffolk

• JFK Elementary Boys & Girls Club

Franklin

• S.P. Morton Boys & Girls Club

The Mobile Pantry 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 2019, the program distributed 1.4 million pounds of food to individuals who either could not travel to an agency or their local agency was at capacity.

Mobile Pantry Schedule

City of Franklin

• March 6, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at National Guard Armory, 900 Armory Dr., Franklin, VA 23851
• April 3, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at National Guard Armory, 900 Armory Dr., Franklin, VA 23851

City of Suffolk

• March 20, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at Salvation Army, 400 Bank St., Suffolk, VA 23434
• April 17, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at Salvation Army, 400 Bank St., Suffolk, VA 23434

Isle of Wight County

• March 12, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at Little’s Market, 518 Main St., Smithfield, VA 23430
• April 9, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at Little’s Market, 518 Main St., Smithfield, VA 23430

Southampton County

• March 24, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at Courtland Farmer’s Market, 24540 Agri Park Dr., Southampton, VA 23837
• April 28, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at Courtland Farmer’s Market, 24540 Agri Park Dr., Southampton, VA 23837

Sussex County

• March 3, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at 7th Day Adventist Church, 19155 Courthouse Road, Yale, VA 23897
• April 7, 2020 from 9:30–11 a.m. at 7th Day Adventist Church, 19155 Courthouse Road, Yale, VA 23897

Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP is the cornerstone of the nation’s nutrition safety net and an investment in our future. The SNAP program offers the opportunity for improved nutrition and progress toward economic self-sufficiency for participants. We urge individuals and families to take advantage of this program. It has been created to offer supplemental support for those who are struggling—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.

Who Can Apply?

An individual or a family may be eligible for this nutrition program even if they own a home, live on the streets and don’t have a mailing address or work full time. If you qualify, you will receive SNAP. The amount you receive on your EBT card each month depends on your income, your assets and your family size.

How Do I Apply?

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is available to help you complete a SNAP application. Get started today by contacting Zach Nissen at 757-201-6287 or znissen@foodbankonline.org.

In the state of Virginia, you can complete a SNAP application online via the Virginia Department of Social Services website “Common Help” by clicking here. You may also fill out an application at your local Virginia Department of Social Services.