WILLIAMSBURG — Williamsburg Area Meals on Wheels and its social enterprise, Good Food Provisions, have teamed up to combat hunger through Crates for the Good this holiday season.
The nonprofit is asking the community for support in feeding those in need.
The Crates for the Good will be distributed twice this season, once on Wednesday, Nov. 27 and again in December.
“The crates we are putting together will have a fully cooked meal for four to six people along with a dessert and treats. We partnered with Trader Joe’s and they are also donating food. This will allow us to add food to the crates. We want to include soups, veggies and fresh fruit so they get a whole box that can feed their families for days,” stated Cathie Upton, Executive Director for Meals on Wheels.
Williamsburg Area Meals on Wheels is currently serving 1,000 people each week.
Upton shared that this is the first time in her 30 years of service with the organization that Meals on Wheels has not been able to provide for all those in need and now has a waiting list.
“This is a different year for us — for our community. We have seen a huge increase in people needing food. Not just the hot meal but food, in general, for families.” Upton continued, “As we are approaching the holiday, we are also looking at the increase in the number of kids we fed last summer who lived in motels and we know they are also sitting here during the holidays without something pre-cooked and ready to go. These families are already struggling financially but may not have the place and means to cook a meal.”
The organization is asking for financial donations that can be used towards filling the crates. Donations, which are tax-deductible, can be made at Crates for the Good.
“Food costs, as we know, have been on the rise. We don’t have any other way except to go raise money to keep feeding,” Upton said.
While Upton shares her gratitude for community members that want to drop off food to share, the Meals on Wheels organization must follow strict guidelines and ultimately, can not utilize can and bag food donations.
Upton’s goal is to eliminate the wait lists so that that no one goes hungry, “Look at your abundance on the table — I would like to make that happen for everyone. It is wrong, in our community, that someone has to wait to be fed. They are not a number. They are a real person.”
Visit Williamsburg Area Meals on Wheels and Good Food Provisions to learn more.
