FOODBANK OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA

Food drives bring hope to thousands with the help of volunteers

by Allison Joyce

Sitting down to a bountiful feast with family and friends during the holiday season is something many of us look forward to each year.  Making sure others less fortunate can do the same shifts the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, and the hundreds of community non-profit groups it supports, into overdrive as they strive to raise awareness about hunger and the need for food drives.  Marianne Smith, Chief Development Officer for the Foodbank, says there are many low-income families that are struggling every day to survive soaring food, fuel and healthcare costs.

“The face of hunger isn’t necessarily what some may envision.  Hunger is all around us, especially in low- and mid-wage households where parents are working two or more jobs in some cases to keep the family afloat.  Fortunately, we are able to provide some relief through our efforts and those of the 500 partner agencies that work so hard to distribute the food and household essentials we collect and buy with contributions,” Marianne says.  “We couldn’t do what we do without the determination and commitment of our cities, communities, nonprofits, and the many volunteers who in so many ways help us turn the tide on hunger and poverty throughout the year,” Marianne says.

Each year, the Foodbank “recovers” and distributes 13.6 million pounds of food and other essentials from restaurants, supermarkets, food distributors, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers, wholesalers, sportsmen and through food and fundraising drives.  Their efforts help provide food to 250,000 individuals annually, thanks in large part to the distribution efforts of its partner agencies that include soup kitchens, faith-based food pantries, neighborhood and family crisis centers, subsidized day care centers, senior citizen centers and homeless shelters for adults and children.  “Together, we provide prepared food and supplies to a 3,500-square-mile service area that includes the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach as well as Southampton, Northampton, Sussex, Isle of Wight and Accomack Counties,” Marianne explains.

Comprehending the magnitude of such an undertaking requires only a visit to the Foodbank’s sprawling facility that, incredibly, runs like clockwork, despite the huge volume of canned, packaged and refrigerated food collected and distributed daily. “We love having visitors, especially from local schools, businesses and civic groups seeking ways to help our communities through volunteer efforts and food drives,” Marianne says.  Pallets, piles, bags and baskets of everything from detergent and cleaning supplies to frozen turkeys housed in a cavernous sub-zero freezer are cataloged, sorted, stacked and stored for optimal usage.  A section recently added enables partner agencies to “shop” for the items their recipients need.

One of those partners is the Tidewater AIDS Community Taskforce (TACT), a private non-profit organization that provides a host of services to about the same geographic areas served by the Foodbank.  Alberto Torres, Program Director, credits TACT’s success with its origins.  “Like so many other organizations that began to address a need within communities, TACT started with a group of concerned citizens who helped individuals and families within their community whose needs were largely unmet,” Al explains.  From its neighbor-to-neighbor beginnings, TACT has grown into a multi-faceted organization that provides food, counseling, educational outreach, and workshops as well as a fully-staffed Case Management Department that addresses issues ranging from housing to medical and legal services.  Brian O’Dell, Executive Director, says fundraising, food drives and volunteers sustain TACT’s operations.  “We have some staff, but most of our workforce is comprised of volunteers who do so much for us.  They drive our members to doctors appointments, bring them meals, and even help with our fund raising efforts like our weekly Bingo games,” Brian says.  “We can always use more help though especially during the holiday season,” he points out.

TACT will provide more than 200 dinners for individuals and families this Thanksgiving and many more before the end of the holidays.  The group provides about 5,000 meals each year and even travels as far as northeast North Carolina.  “People find out about us from all over Hampton Roads and beyond and they contact us because they don’t have access to other resources like TACT that provides so much support.  We have a vast knowledge of other agencies, including those within local, state and federal levels so if there is something that we can’t do for you, we know exactly who to contact to get you the help you need,” Al emphasizes.  “It keeps us very busy, but it is very worthwhile knowing that we are serving people who need us,” he adds.  Like so many other organizations, TACT seeks donations, contributions and volunteers year round, especially during its busy holiday season.  “We know people are busy with the demands of their lives, but if you can donate even one can of corn, we are so grateful for the help,” Al urges.  The organization also recruits volunteers to prepare meals for delivery. And, like many groups, TACT and the Foodbank strive to tailor volunteerism to the individual.

“There are many things you can do for the Foodbank or an organization serving your community, but we know it’s important to match our volunteers with the type of work they want to do for us.  Some come in for a few hours a week to help sort food and other items.  Some cook and deliver meals for our school lunch program that serves children all over Hampton Roads.  We are also always recruiting those with specific professional backgrounds to assist us with other levels of our operations like program management, finance and computer systems.  With baby boomers beginning to retire and looking for something to do with their spare time, we’re hoping The Foodbank and other nonprofits will be able to attract a new generation of volunteers as committed as we are to giving back to and educating our communities,” Marianne says.

“Educating others about a population within our society that is often negatively stereotyped is key to advancing our humanitarian mission,” Marianne continues.  Only two percent of the hungry served by the Foodbank are homeless; 32 percent are under the age of 18; 42 percent are the working poor and 24 percent are seniors. “We are talking about families surviving economic challenges where they are truly a razor’s edge from disaster…and that number is growing each year.  The Foodbank, TACT and others are fighting every day to keep that from happening,” Marianne concludes.