The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank today announced they’ll be one of 30 food banks to be awarded grants this September from BJ’s Charitable Foundation. The foundation is distributing grants in celebration of BJ’s Wholesale Club’s 30^th anniversary. A member of the Feeding America network, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank is among those awarded gifts to increase the food storage capacity for local anti-hunger organizations.

While food banks often have immense space and storage to provide product for the food pantries and shelters they support, these smaller partner organizations and charities often have limited equipment abilities. Limited equipment hinders their ability to serve the community. By providing anti-hunger partners like food pantries, shelters and meal programs with the necessary equipment, they can transport and store a larger amount of perishable items and thus distribute more food to local families struggling with food insecurity.

“We are thrilled to have been awarded one of the 30th anniversary grants by BJ’s Charitable Foundation,” said Michele Benson, Chief Development Officer. “Because of this grant, we will be able to work with our local partners to help them obtain more healthy foods and ensure that this food makes it into the hands of more neighbors in need across the Greater Peninsula.”

The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank will utilize the award to provide much needed refrigerators, freezers and coolers to partner agencies to assist in their storage needs and foresees the increase of fresh fruits and vegetables and other fresh/frozen food to be distributed to hungry families in our community.

“BJ’s Wholesale Club is proud to reach our 30-year milestone and share our enthusiasm by expanding our role in the fight against hunger,” said Dawn Albright, General Manager of the BJ’s Wholesale Club in Hampton. “Supporting the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and their local agencies’ need for capacity building will ensure that perishable food can reach the people who need it most in our own backyard.

The BJ’s Charitable Foundation $21,000 grant to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank is being awarded during September as the non-profit is also observing Hunger Action Month™. Hunger Action Month is a nationwide campaign, founded by the leading domestic hunger-relief organization Feeding America, to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger in America. The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank will be working within the community on a variety of local Hunger Action Month activities.

The added local capacity provided by this grant comes on the heels of the national Hunger in America 2014 study announcement that one in seven Americans, more than 46 million people including 12 million children, rely on food pantries and meal service programs.