The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore received a series of grants Monday totaling $410,000.
The grants were awarded from Obici Healthcare Foundation, Sentara Healthcare, and Walmart.
The Foodbank will use these funds to support healthcare-related initiatives like the Mobile Food Pantry Program. The program helps to increase healthy, nutritious meals in communities with a high prevalence of food insecurity and food deserts. The Foodbank plans to utilize these new grants to expand its service delivery model and place an even greater emphasis on fresh produce distribution.
“Within the last year, we have been laser-focused on aligning our resources with strategic initiatives that have the ability to move us beyond feeding the line, and closer toward our goal to end the line,” said Ruth Jones Nichols, CEO, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. “We are especially grateful to our partners that share our commitment to improving the nutritional value of distributed food to positively impact health outcomes, which is highly prioritized in our Strategic Plan.”
The newly expanded food pantry will transition from the large distribution of shelf-stable, dry good items to more fruits and vegetables that are low in sodium, sugar and trans-fat. The model will also increase the distribution of healthy food to individuals struggling with health-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Click here to learn more about the Foodbank.
