AUGUST 27, 2026 — The news has been heavy, and there is plenty of hard work ahead. But across Virginia, food banks, farmers, volunteers, partners and neighbors are finding new ways to meet the moment, strengthen communities and make sure more Virginians have access to nutritious food.
Here are a few bright spots from the past year worth celebrating.
Capital Area Food Bank (Northern Virginia)
- Seniors Take the Mic — a conference where the people facing hunger set the agenda
- Grocery Lifeline for Furloughed Workers — pop-up markets sprang up across the region mid-shutdown
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (Central & Western Virginia)
- Food as Medicine — doctors are now prescribing groceries, not just pills
- More Than a Pantry — Page County’s food bank became a one-stop community hub
- A Seat at the State Table — CEO tapped for Virginia’s Commission to End Hunger
The Federation of Virginia Food Banks (Statewide)
- A Personal Diagnosis, A Statewide Plan — Hollie, a longtime food-bank employee, is helping write food security into Virginia’s statewide Cancer Plan after surviving her own diagnosis
- Proving Hunger Is a Bipartisan Issue – When collaborating across the aisle feels rare, the Federation is proud to work directly with the former and current state Administrations to benefit Virginians in need
Feed More (Central Virginia)
- DoorDash Delivers Dinner — groceries dropped right at the door for homebound neighbors
- The Love Market — RPS turned a Richmond elementary school into a free farmers market when SNAP stalled
- Rallying for Petersburg’s Seniors — the food bank, a casino, and local leaders teamed up overnight when seniors lost their homes
Feeding Southwest Virginia
- Amazon Delivers Summer Lunch — 33,800 meals reach kids in three rural counties
- Strategy Session for a Shutdown — dozens of pantries huddle up to fight rising hunger together
- Summer Meals, Supersized — 250,000 meals planned for 5,000 kids across Roanoke
Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank
- Star Wars, Made of Soup Cans — “Canstruction” turns canned goods into art (and 10,000 meals)
- 150 Families, 2 Hours — the food bank’s biggest-ever turnout, built for furloughed feds
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
- A Farmers Market on Wheels — the 757 Mobile Market lets neighbors “shop” a truck full of fresh produce, no cost, no ID, and led by students
- Harvesting Hope, One Farm at a Time — a 20-acre farm grows crops just for the food bank
Virginia Peninsula Foodbank
- A Vending Machine for Groceries — a 24/7 food locker outside the ER, no appointment needed
- Sentara’s First-of-Its-Kind Fix — hospital discharge now comes with a week of groceries
- The Summer Meals Van, 10 Years Running — a decade of showing up for kids when school is out
These stories are reminders of what Virginia can accomplish when we show up for one another, and that no one has to face hard times alone. Even in a challenging season, our food bank network and the communities around it are building something worth being proud of: a Commonwealth where neighbors care for neighbors and everyone has a place at the table.