Healthy Pantry Initiative

Our Approach

Since 2021, the Healthy Pantry Initiative is transforming Virginia’s food pantries to improve the health and well-being of neighbors facing hunger. With over 1,100 pantries across the state, we believe that all pantries, regardless of size or capacity, can implement healthy practices to better support the health and nutrition of neighbors facing hunger.

Pantries that join the initiative commit to enhancing any one of these four key areas of best practice:

Healthy Food Availability

Offering more fresh fruits, vegetables, and culturally preferred foods

Community Connection

Providing health services or referrals on-site

Health Education

Hosting nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations

Neighbor-Centered Practices

Creating a welcoming, accessible environment for all

The Healthy Pantry Initiative makes these improvements easy and practical by providing training, support, and hands-on solutions. The goal is simple: to ensure every neighbor has access to the food and opportunities they need for a healthier life.

What Makes a Healthy Pantry?

This statewide initiative is led by the Federation of Virginia Food Banks in partnership with Virginia’s seven regional food banks. Member food pantries join the Healthy Pantry Initiative through:

Assessment

A statewide survey identifies service gaps and guides priorities for improvement.

Learning

Free online courses help pantry staff and volunteers make improvements, no matter their budget or size.

Implementation

Choose from 20 best practices based on survey results, with possible micro-grant support.

Evaluation

See how guests react to the improvement and adjust as needed.

2024 Impact at a Glance

food pantries in Virginia have already opted in

in micro-grants awarded to community pantries to implement a best practice

free online courses available on the Learning Center, accessed by more than 150 individuals

“Through our Healthy Pantry grant, we have finally been able to create a space that truly embodies our belief that food is medicine.”

– Pantry coordinator in Fredericksburg

“The translation devices have been phenomenal. We are now able to communicate with clients during check-in at the pantry and during the distribution itself. Clients can better explain what food they’re requesting, and staff and volunteers can better communicate options, ingredients, and other information like events and partners who may be on-site.”

– Pantry coordinator in Lorton

“…There were some neighbors who silently struggled with dietary restrictions for years, often feeling overlooked and judged. When they heard about our new initiative… they shared how they had often felt marginalized and misunderstood. The move towards a healthy pantry, they said, felt like someone was finally listening to their needs without judgment.”

– Pantry coordinator in Fredericksburg

“Our homebound neighbors participating in the senior home delivery program were equally thrilled with the addition of dairy products (eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, and almond milk), juice, and frozen vegetables to their deliveries. These items are often requested but rarely available due to our reliance on donations, with perishable items being especially scarce. The joy and relief expressed by our senior clients upon receiving these nutritious and much-desired foods underscore the significant impact of these enhancements on their daily lives.”

– Pantry coordinator in Dumfries

“A few clients noticed we got more refrigerated space [through HPI] and were so happy to hear it, and so supportive. It turned into a bigger discussion about what people need, and deepened our relationships, which is what we’re all about… As a staff member of a non-profit, I sometimes want to see growth faster because our hearts want to help everyone right now and remove all that worry that people have about feeding themselves or their children. But many people coming together can make great strides and reach farther together. Increasing the cold storage space has allowed us to organize sandwiches and ‘on the go’ items from a local store to give to people experiencing homelessness. Seeing this gets us another step closer, for the part we play in the community, to helping feed everyone in our corner of the world.”

– Pantry coordinator in Portsmouth