NORFOLK, Va. — The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore will be participating in the Summer Food Service Program from June 20 until September 4.
The program will help feed kids who typically rely on school lunches and packed weekend meals during the school year, David Brandt, a spokesperson for the Foodbank, said.
This program comes at a time when not only families are struggling to feed their children, but food banks are continuously battling the challenge to keep food stocked up.
Brandt says his team is working against high gas prices and inflation.
"It comes at us from every angle you could imagine," said Brandt. "We're doing the best we can. As you can see, there are empty shelves around here that weren't empty last Fall and certainly before the pandemic."
Brandt says not only is his team jumping through hoops to get the basic food items, but the demand is increasing among families. Despite the increase in demand, not enough people are taking advantage of the summer program.
"The tragic part of it is only about 20% of the children who participate in the free and reduced lunch program actually go to the summer feeding programs," said Brandt. "We'd like to see that number increase because we know the need is out there."
In this summer program, there will be times each day when food is served on a first-come-first-served basis. The times and locations are listed below.
Eastern Shore
- 6/21/2022 – 8/26/2022 Eastern Shore Boys & Girls Club, 24497 Mary N. Smith Road, Accomac. 757-709-3083
- Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.; Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
Norfolk
- 6/20/2022 – 8/26/2022 Southside Boys & Girls Club, Diggs Town Unit, 1401 Melon Street. 757-383-6928
- Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.; Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
- 6/21/2022 – 8/19/2022 Calvert Square Envision Center, 975 Bagnall Road. 757-314-4241
- Breakfast, 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.; Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
- 6/21/2022 – 8/19/2022 Grandy Village Recreation Center, 3017 Kimball Terrace. 757-441-2117
- Breakfast, 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.; Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
- 6/21/2022 – 8/19/2022 Oakleaf Forest Family Investment Center, 1706 Greenleaf Drive. 757-314-1695
- Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Afternoon Snack, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.; Monday thru Friday
- 6/27/2022 – 8/26/2022 The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of Hampton Roads, 1401 Ballentine Boulevard. 757-622-5762
- Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.–9:10 a.m.; Lunch 11:35 p.m.–12:25 p.m. Monday thru Friday
- 6/27/2022 – 8/12/2022 Teens with a Purpose, 700 E. Olney Road. 757-747-2679
- Breakfast, 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.; Lunch 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday
- 7/18/2022 – 8/26/2022 Southside Boys & Girls Club, Berkley Unit, 701 Berkley Avenue Extension. 757-545-5963
- Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.; Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
Portsmouth
- 6/21/2022 – 8/26/2022 Portsmouth Boys & Girls Club, 5895 Portsmouth Boulevard. 757-967-8361
- Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.; Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
- 6/27/2022 – 8/26/2022 St Mark Deliverance Center, 3801 Turnpike Road. 757-399-1612
- Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.; Lunch 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
- 6/27/2022 – 7/1/2022 Seed of Hope, 1128 London Boulevard. 757-799-5536
- Afternoon Snack, 3:00 p.m.–3:15 p.m.; Supper 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday
Suffolk
- 6/21/2022 – 9/2/2022 Suffolk Boys & Girls Club, 2325 E. Washington Street. 757-652-4017
- Breakfast, 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.; Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
- 6/27/2022 – 9/2/2022 Wilson Pine Apartments, 2525 E. Washington Street. 757-809-3414
- Breakfast, 9:00 a.m.–9:45 a.m.; Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
Virginia Beach
- 6/20/2022 – 9/4/2022 Seatack Recreation Center, 141 South Birdneck Road. 757-385-5920
- Lunch, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; Afternoon Snack 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday thru Sunday
Brandt says the food bank is also dealing with fewer donations from the public, which means more money is coming out of the food bank to pay for the staples. You can find out how to donate money or food by visiting the food bank's website.