Food fuels learning.
Across the greater Peninsula, 1 in 5 (or almost 24,000) children are at risk of going to bed hungry. Hunger can impact a child's success today and hinder their future potential.
One of our signature childhood hunger initiatives is our Food for Kids BackPack Program.
The program’s mission is to break the cycle of hunger and food insecurity for children in low-income communities by providing nutritious healthy foods that are easily portable and can be consumed at their homes over weekends and during extended holidays throughout the year.
During the school year, with the generosity of our community, Virginia Peninsula Foodbank is purchasing food to provide up to 1,500 food bags a week during the school year and up to 500 food bags per week during the summer months.
It is often said that "a child cannot be hungry to learn if he or she is just plain hungry."
Goals to Nourish Growing Minds
- To promote the health of children and give them a better understanding of the benefits of healthy eating and the importance of a proper diet.
- To maintain the capability to access and distribute nutritious food commodities by purchasing these items.
- To continue to expand to meet the growing number of children at risk.
- To distribute food discreetly in easily accessible and safe environments.
“I don’t have the stress of where the next meal comes from. It’s been a big weight lifted off my shoulders, and I don’t want my kids to go without food.”