Federation of Virginia Food Banks
Growing the collective capacity of Virginia’s food banks
and engaging partners to end hunger in the Commonwealth
Find your food bank
The Federation comprises all seven regional Feeding America food banks serving Virginia and the greater DC region. Click here to find out which food bank serves your community and either find assistance or learn about how you can help.
Virginia Nutrition Security Summit (Virtual Event)
We are thrilled to host this virtual event as we work to improve healthy food access across the Commonwealth. This 2-hour event will feature public health stakeholders, government entities, and other partners that recognize nutrition security as a critical social determinant of health.
We will feature remarks from the Governor’s office and an update on the Roadmap to End Hunger from Social Services Commissioner Duke Storen.
Please note: this free Zoom event requires a Zoom account to register. You may create a free account if you do not already have one.
We hope you will join us for a what promises to be an informative and thought-provoking event!
Nutrition Security and Health in Virginia
Americans who are most likely to experience food insecurity are also those most at risk of diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. These existing health disparities are directly tied to decades of systematic inequities and structural racism. It is well established that the same historically marginalized minority groups, as well as people living in rural and low-income areas, are less likely to have access to large chain grocery stores, those that carry a wider variety of affordable, healthy foods. Instead, those stores are often replaced with heavily processed fast-food options.
Education and behavior change are not sufficient to reduce these health disparities and often shift the blame back to these already marginalized communities. We view nutrition security as partnering to increase access to culturally relevant, nutritious foods and altering the built environment to make the healthy choice the easy choice so that everyone has the right to achieve their full health potential.
Virginia Ag Food Assistance Program
On June 30th, Governor Northam visited the Capital Area Food Bank (Lorton warehouse) to sign the Virginia Ag Food Assistance Program (VFAP) bill. The bill is designed to increase access to healthy, affordable food in Virginia’s food bank system.
The legislation will work in tandem with Virginia’s food crop donation tax credit by making funds available to farmers to cover the fixed costs — such as harvesting, processing, packaging, and transporting — surplus product to Virginia’s seven regional food banks for distribution.
Feed VA
FeedVA.org is Virginia’s one-stop shop for connecting with food access stakeholders, exploring interactive data maps, and finding resources to support the food system in your community.
Milk is one of the most requested yet least donated items to Virginia’s food banks. On average, the families coming to our food pantries receive less than 1 gallon of milk per year.
Beginning in 2019, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks has made more milk available than ever before through the Milk for Good program. Your contributions will go directly toward the purchase of fresh, locally processed, nutrient-rich milk. On average, a $5 donation will provide 24 servings, or three half-gallons, of milk.
Support Our Mission
The Federation of Virginia Food Banks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit state association of food banks affiliated with Feeding America and is the largest hunger-relief network in the state. The Federation supports the seven regional Virginia/Washington DC food banks in building partnerships, securing resources, sharing data, and raising awareness of food insecurity throughout the Commonwealth.
Our mission is to grow the collective capacity of Virginia’s food banks and engage partners to end hunger in the Commonwealth. Last year, the Federation’s network distributed almost 118 million pounds of food and grocery products through 1,560 member agencies that directly serve those in need. These agencies operate programs such as soup kitchens, afterschool programs, senior centers and elderly feeding programs, Head Start, transitional housing, mental health programs, homeless and domestic violence shelters, and individual household distribution.
If you are interested in exploring a partnership with the Federation, please contact us.
