Bank of America and Virginia Peninsula Foodbank Unveil New Food Truck to Expand the Foodbank’s Mobile Food Pantry Program

Foodbank recognized by Bank of America as a Neighborhood Builder, will receive leadership training and $200,000 in flexible funding

Hampton Roads, VA – Today, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank unveiled a new 24-foot truck that will help expand the Foodbank’s Mobile Pantry Program and provide nutritious food to those living in food deserts across the Hampton Roads region. The truck will enable the Foodbank to reach more than 2,400 food insecure individuals each month.

The funding is part of the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders program. Charlie Henderson, Hampton Roads market president, Bank of America, presented the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank with a check for $200,000 at the event this morning during which Bank of America volunteers packed 400 USDA food bags. The nonprofit is being recognized for its work to increase the amount of food distributed and its focus on the nutritional value of the food, in order to reduce hunger and nutrition deficiencies among a low-income population.

“We recognize the significant role the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank plays in our community and the importance of having a mobile pantry truck,” said Henderson. “The funding provided through Neighborhood Builders will help them expand their operations to reach families that may not have access to supermarkets and other sources of fresh food.”

“We are so grateful to Bank of America for awarding the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank this generous grant and the opportunity to participate in their leadership training program,” said Karen Joyner, CEO, Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. “Promoting nutrition is an important component of our mission statement and this support will allow us to provide even more assistance to those who may not currently have access to fresh produce and other nutritious foods.”

Across the Greater Peninsula, almost 74,000 individuals are food insecure, or have limited or unsure access to enough food and 1 in 6 of them are children.

Currently marking its tenth anniversary, Neighborhood Builders is a strategic investment in communities that combines $200,000 in flexible funding with leadership training for high-performing nonprofits and their executives. Through Neighborhood Builders, Bank of America has invested $160 million in 800 nonprofit organizations and provided training to 1,600 nonprofit leaders. Neighborhood Builders furthers the company’s broader philanthropic commitment to addressing core issues that are critical to the economic vitality of local economies, with a particular focus on low-and-moderate-income communities.

Organizations selected as Neighborhood Builders are recognized for their significant impact in addressing needs related to community development, basic human services or workforce development and education. The flexible funding allows nonprofits to build capacity. At the same time, leaders of the organizations learn about issues core to nonprofit sustainability through the Neighborhood Builders leadership training.