In Virginia, 893,720 people are struggling with hunger and 249,170 of them are children, according to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.
Locally, in the Greater Peninsula area, 1 in 7 Virginians struggle with hunger. Unemployment, stagnant or low wages, and the rising costs of living, are all factors that contribute to this ongoing crisis.
“A couple of bags of groceries can be life changing,” said Karen Joyner, chief executive officer of the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. “For example, many people who need food assistance have jobs, or are living paycheck to paycheck. But if something happens, like an unexpected medical bill, or a car breaks down, this can cause people to stumble and need extra support.”
According to The Federal Reserve’s 2015 report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. households, nearly 46 percent of Americans did not have enough money to cover a $400 emergency expense.
“Food assistance can mean the difference between someone being able to pay their rent or not, whether a child is fed before school, or if a senior is able to pay for his medication,” Joyner said. “It can give hope and prevent somebody from spiraling downward.”
Food insecurity is defined as not knowing where your next meal is coming from, or not having enough food to sustain a healthy and active lifestyle.
“The Greater Peninsula area has the largest rate of food insecurity in the state,” Joyner said. “In the nine cities and counties where we work, there are approximately 73,000 people who need food assistance. But, if you look closely at the statistics, you’ll find that number actually doubles. There are the 73,000 people who are chronically food insecure; and then there are the additional 70-80,000 people who might need assistance once or twice, to make it past a personal crisis.”
The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank partners with more than 200 agencies and programs to ensure the distribution of healthy meals across communities.
“Our Mobile Pantry visits 30 locations a month and serves about 100-200 households with nutritious food,” Joyner said. “Our BackPack Program provides 1,500 school-aged children a week with healthy meals for the weekends. And our Culinary Training Program invites economically disadvantaged adults to learn culinary skills and life skills to help them gain future employment.”
In 2018 alone, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank distributed more than 12.1 million pounds of food, or the equivalent of 10 million meals to those in need.
“Donate, hold a food drive, or volunteer,” Joyner added. “Or come by and take a tour of our operations. We love to share the work that we do. ”
For more information on the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank click here, or to schedule a tour, email Joyner directly at: [email protected].
