Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore

Who Can Visit?

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore serves neighbors struggling with hunger throughout its 4,745 square-mile service area, covering 11 cities and counties. This location at 800 Tidewater Drive is the main office and warehouse, and it works primarily as a distribution hub that supplies food to hundreds of partner agencies, mobile pantries, and food hubs rather than distributing directly to individuals on-site each day. One reviewer put it simply: "This is a place for anyone in need of food. The food bank helps any person, family regardless of their financial situation. There is no reason to go hungry, you just go to the foodbank and ask for food."

Food & Essentials

Through the Foodbank's partner pantries and programs, neighbors can access a wide range of food. Items distributed across the network include fresh produce, fresh vegetables, canned fruits and vegetables, canned chicken, canned tuna, peanut butter, beans, cereal, oatmeal, pasta, rice, crackers, soups, stews, and boxed meals. Personal care items are also available at some locations, including shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and feminine hygiene items. Baby products like formula, baby food, diapers, and wipes are distributed as well.

The Healthy Food Pantry Program serves individuals facing health challenges like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. It focuses on foods that are low in sodium, sugar, and trans-fat, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, and provides a 50-pound monthly supply of nutritious food along with nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, financial literacy guidance, and peer support. For more information, contact the Health Equity Manager at (757) 201-6279.

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), also called the Senior Big Box Program, is for low-income adults who are at least 60 years old. It provides a 30-pound box of nonperishable USDA food each month, including fruits, juice, vegetables, grains, cereals, dairy, meat protein, and plant-based protein, along with nutrition tips and recipes. For more information, contact the Senior Feeding Program Coordinator at (757) 201-6284 or the Nutrition Programs Manager at (757) 314-4577.

How to Pick Up

The Foodbank distributes food through several channels. The Mobile Pantry program brings free groceries directly to underserved areas and food deserts using trucks and vans stocked with fresh produce, nutritious staples, and essential food items. If you visit a mobile pantry distribution, come with your trunk empty, stay in your vehicle, put your car fully in park at each stop, end all phone calls, and wait until you are called forward. Food is available while supplies last. Because dates and times can change, check the Foodbank's social media pages (@FoodbankSEVA) for the most current information. For details, contact the Mobile Logistics Manager at (757) 314-4568.

At Food Hub locations, visitors can shop for food on a regular schedule. At The Community Feed at Jordan-Newby, shopping is limited to one visit per week. Services vary by location.

One reviewer described a pick-up experience as "Fast, easy and pick your own favorite," reflecting a client-choice setup at some locations.

Additional Support

The Foodbank offers much more than food. One reviewer shared: "It's a wonderful organization that provides a variety of services not just food, but healthcare screenings, blood pressure checks, flu shots, glucose checks, and also a host of other community services information!"

The Food Hubs program addresses the root causes of hunger beyond just providing meals. Food Hubs offer holistic support around access to higher education, employment, housing, healthcare, and financial literacy. Norfolk Food Hub locations include The Community Feed at Berkley (701 S Main St.) and The Community Feed at Jordan-Newby (961 Park Ave.).

The Nourishing Our Neighbors initiative supports families with children in communities where more than 15% of households struggle to access adequate food and where 50% or more of students qualify for free and reduced-price meals. For more information, contact the Director of Programs and Innovation at (757) 314-4566.

The Foodbank also provides SNAP assistance resources to help neighbors connect with food benefits. More information is available at foodbankonline.org/resources/snap-assistance.

Ways to Give

The Foodbank welcomes donations of food, money, and time. You can donate online at giving.foodbankonline.org, call (757) 627-6599, or mail a check. Just $1 provides up to 2 meals, and 95 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to those in need.

Through the Fill it Forward program, you can drop off nonperishable food or personal care items at donation bins placed at local businesses across the region, including Ashley Furniture Homestores, Cinema Café locations, Fulton Bank branches, and TCC student centers in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. Accepted donations include peanut butter, beans, canned chicken, canned tuna, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, oatmeal, pasta, rice, crackers, granola bars, soups, stews, formula, baby food, diapers, wipes, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and feminine hygiene items. Items should be shelf-stable, non-breakable, and have intact labels. The Foodbank accepts items up to 6 months past the Best By date. If you need a tax receipt, items must be dropped off directly at the Foodbank.

Other ways to support include monthly giving through the Feed 365 program, tribute giving, planned giving, legacy giving through your estate, employer matching, cryptocurrency donations, and starting a peer-to-peer fundraiser. For questions about monthly giving, contact Donor Services at donorservices@foodbankonline.org. For planned or legacy giving, contact the Director of Giving at (757) 269-9602.

How to Join the Team?

Volunteers are the backbone of the Foodbank's daily work, helping with sorting and packing food, supporting food distribution events, making deliveries, managing office tasks, providing warehouse customer service, and much more. The Foodbank has a dedicated force of more than 7,000 volunteers and welcomes people of all experience levels and backgrounds.

To get started, complete a quick registration to access the VolunteerHub portal, where you can browse available shifts by location and date and reserve your spot. Shifts fill up quickly, so don't wait! Visit foodbankonline.org/get-involved/volunteer to sign up.

Groups and corporate teams can complete the Group Volunteer Interest Form at foodbankonline.org/group-volunteer-interest-form and the Community Engagement team will follow up with available options. The Volunteer Handbook at foodbankonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Volunteer-Handbook-FY26.pdf covers everything you need to know, from expectations and safety guidelines to scheduling tips.

For more information, reach out to the Community Engagement team at volunteer@foodbankonline.org.