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Partner Agency Highlight

Foodbank of Southeast Virginia and the Eastern Shore

Programs Funded: Mobile Food Pantry, Kids Café, BackPack Program & Healthy School Market

Number of Individuals Served in 2018: 10,957

Number of Meals Distributed: 486,920

The Foodbank of Southeast Virginia provided 486,920 meals to hungry families in Franklin and Southampton County in 2018. Food was distributed through many different outlets including the mobile food pantry, the Kids Café, and the school BackPack program. There are 2 primary mobile food pantry sites in our community that provide a means for individuals and families to receive food when they cannot travel to an agency, or their local agency is at-capacity. Monthly distributions are held at the Franklin Armory and the Courtland Farmers Market. In addition to the mobile pantries, there are 7 churches and one agency that distributes food provided by the Foodbank.

The Kids Café after-school program was created by Feeding America™ and is administered 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. Throughout the school year and during the summer, the Foodbank operates the Kids Café at the Boys and Girls Club. When school is out for summer break, kids can still access meals through other Summer Feeding Sites.

The BackPack program is provided in all 5 of the local public elementary schools. The backpacks are filled with food that children take home on weekends. Food is child-friendly, non-perishable, and easily-consumed. Backpacks are discreetly distributed to children on the last day before the weekend or holiday vacation.

The Foodbank has added a new program in 2019 that battles food insecurity in our community by providing fresh fruits and vegetables distributed by the local school systems. The Healthy School Markets have been held at Capron Elementary School, Riverdale Elementary School and JP King Middle School. Families that attend the Healthy School Markets shop for free, fresh fruits and vegetables and events are seeing attendance of over 100 families.

The Foodbank is looking to expand services to Franklin and Southampton County in the coming year as this area is known as a “healthy food desert” with not many options for groceries, markets and home delivery to seniors and homebound members of the rural community.