WILLIAMSBURG — A new community food locker program aimed at providing around-the-clock access to food officially opened this week through a partnership among Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, Williamsburg House of Mercy, and the Williamsburg Health Foundation.
Community leaders, health care officials, and nonprofit partners gathered on Sentara’s campus for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating what speakers described as an innovative response to food insecurity in the region.
“This exciting collaboration … really helps our ALICE population,” said Terry Banez, CEO of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce. “On behalf of myself, our board of directors and over 800 members, I want to say congratulations for doing such a wonderful thing for our community.”
Loren Smith, Vice President of hospital operations at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, said the initiative reflects Sentara’s commitment to caring for the whole person beyond hospital walls.
“Our community health needs assessments tell us that food is certainly a part of being able to take care of the whole person,” Smith said. “How can we ensure that we’re creating innovative ways to be able to support that need out in our community?”
Amber Price, Sentara’s chief nursing officer, said the idea for food lockers emerged from efforts to address food insecurity in a way that preserves privacy and dignity.
“It’s very different having to stand in line for something than to privately be able to walk up to somewhere when your kids are in the car watching,” she said. “These are really impactful things for people who are experiencing food insecurity.”
Williamsburg House of Mercy Executive Director Liz Buckley said the concept was born from a personal moment that highlighted how access to food is often taken for granted.
“I realized how much I took for granted the ability to simply run out and get what I needed when I needed it,” Buckley said. “I realized that for many of our neighbors, there is no such thing as the luxury of convenience.”
Buckley said the lockers align with the organization’s mission of dignity and compassion.
“There is no greater dignity than allowing a neighbor to access food on their time, not ours,” she said. “Whether it’s a 2 a.m. hospital discharge or a parent working two jobs, Mercy is now available 24/7.”
York County Supervisor Thomas Shepperd praised the partnership and emphasized the importance of community-driven solutions to hunger.
Shepperd said the project represents a meaningful step toward supporting families in need. “This is a step in the direction that we need to go,” he said. “Every little bit helps.”
Following remarks, partners and community members participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the official opening of the food lockers and celebrating a collaboration organizers said they hope will serve as a model for addressing food insecurity with dignity and compassion.
