Programs & Services

Emergency Food Distribution – The food bank is a resource for churches and other non-profit organizations. Those who are members join with us in maintaining the food bank operation. They come to the food bank to pick up food and take it back to their individual pantries, where it can be distributed to the needy.

Emergency Food Box Program – Member agencies often encounter emergency situations in which individuals need food immediately. It seems that this is a function of human nature.  People often are in denial concerning the seriousness of their situation and wait until the last minute to seek help.  Member agencies can send individuals and families in need of emergency food to the food bank to pick up a supply of food usually meant to last less than 7 days.

USDA Commodities Program – The food bank acts as the regional distributor of USDA surplus commodities available to income-eligible individuals in Planning District 16 through approved USDA pantry operations. Eight member agencies at the food bank are certified USDA pantries.

Kids Café Program – These after-school feeding programs currently feed over 5,000 income-eligible children daily throughout Planning District 16. Feeding programs run in conjunction with mentoring, homework, recreation programs existing in schools and other non-profit agencies, such as the YMCA.

Gleaning Program – Volunteers deliver bakery and produce to the elderly housed in senior citizen complexes or low-income housing.

Volunteer Work-Skills Improvement – The food bank operates a work-skills improvement program for teenagers 16 and older, and handicapped individuals.  Partnering with schools, and non-profit organizations dealing with at-risk children, ongoing volunteer opportunities provide training and skill advancement for the involved individuals.

Mary Washington College/COAR/Hunger Chair Volunteer Program – During the school year, over 150 college students sign on to help with special events, mentoring at Kids Cafes, and interning at the Food Bank.

Food for Life Program - Food For Life is a Brown Bag Feeding program for low-income elderly and for those with certified disabilities that are in low income households. Food For Life will distribute nutritious food to qualified individuals at designated sites. The donated foods are not intended to meet all the nutritional needs of the clients, but rather to offer a supplement to their diets. Participants receive a bag or box of supplemental food each month. Volunteers are assigned by the participating site to pick up the supplemental bags of food from the Food Bank on a specific day and time. The volunteers then deliver the supplemental bags of food to the participants. Sites can be located in non-profit agencies, churches, community centers or apartment complexes. The program will coordinate introductory Nutritional Education sessions with the local VA Cooperative Extension Office at your facility.