JAMES CITY COUNTY — Low-income families in the greater Williamsburg region suffering from food insecurity now have a more dignified way to ensure no one in their household goes hungry, thanks to the opening of The Gathering Place at Grove Christian Outreach Center on Nov. 20.
The Gathering Place marks Williamsburg’s first free grocery market, which offers a dignified shopping experience, free of charge, to vulnerable families across the region.
“We are overjoyed to officially open The Gathering Place and invite families to experience a grocery market designed to meet their needs with dignity and care,” said Katie Patrick, Executive Director of Grove Christian Outreach Center, during a ribbon cutting at the market. “This is more than a food resource; it’s a place of hope, connection and community.”
The Gathering Place operates as a grocery store, empowering families to select food and household items that best suit their needs and preferences. Unlike traditional food pantries, this model offers fresh produce, dairy, proteins and pantry staples in an environment that feels welcoming and familiar — like a grocery store.
Allowing families who have qualified to receive services from the center to select items on their own also reduces food waste compared to traditional pantry models.
The approximately 2,000-square-foot Gathering Place space was designed to alleviate the stigma often associated with receiving food assistance, making it a welcoming resource for families navigating challenging times.
“For a long time, food pantries operated as back-door ministries,” explained Patrick. “But when people need food assistance, they don’t want to go to the back door or have shame associated with their families. Food is love, and love doesn’t hide.”
The Gathering Place was made possible through the generosity of local donors, businesses and community partners who believe in Grove Christian Outreach Center’s mission to provide practical, compassionate assistance to neighbors in need, the nonprofit said.
“We would not be opening The Gathering Place without the support of the community, whether that’s from our volunteers who show up in many different ways, whether that’s from the Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce, or the elected officials who support and are so grateful for the work that we do for residents,” said Patrick. “The greater Williamsburg community has really stepped up in remarkable ways to make this dream a reality.”
Regional grocery retailer Food Lion played an important role in the opening of The Gathering Place. The Center was selected to participate in The Great Pantry Makeover, an annual Food Lion Feeds event, where local Food Lion associates spent 30 days volunteering to complete The Gathering Place buildout and stock the shelves with more than 3,000 pounds of shelf-stable food.
The Williamsburg Health Foundation was also a key supporter, helping to fund the installation of new, highly efficient refrigeration systems for storing fresh produce, dairy and other items.
“What an amazingly beautiful place,” said Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce CEO Terry Banez, noting how the Center provided over 1,000 food pantry visits to area families in October alone. “It’s really phenomenal what the Grove Christian Outreach Center has done, and we wish the team much success going forward.”
Grove Christian Outreach Center provides food, clothing and financial assistance to those in need. Over the last 20 years, programs have evolved and grown to also include services such as food delivery programs for household seniors, school supply drives for local families and holiday programs. With the community’s support, in 2023, a total of 31,901 people were served through various programs.
Allyson Whitehead, Volunteer Coordinator for Grove Christian Outreach, summed up the feeling of the event, “This makes my heart so happy, I am just so happy that our families will get to experience this.”
The Gathering Place will officially begin serving the Grove community in January.
Grove Christian Outreach Center invites individuals, businesses, and organizations to join the mission by volunteering, donating or sponsoring its programs, including The Gathering Place. For more information, visit groveoutreach.com.