During the 2000/2001 fiscal year, the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula distributed over 4.5 million pounds of food. That equates to 3,405,599 meals for our neighbors in need. There are several ways that food is distributed. The 3 listed below are just the beginning. We urge you to look at the other programs we offer that also aid in food distributing, including Food Recovery.

Donated Food Recovery
Because of America's Second Harvest and food recovery programs throughout the United States, we are able to acquire, for a minimal shipping fee, food that would otherwise go unused. The food then goes through our personal food recovery room where it is sorted and packed. Following this, the boxes of food are moved to our warehouse shelves where agencies, other 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, pick-up goods to distribute to soup kitchens, emergency food pantries, transitional homes, senior citizen complexes, Kids Cafes and many, many other agencies.

USDA/TEFAP
As a United States agency the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) helps to strengthen the nutrition safety net through commodity distribution. At the Foodbank, we receive these USDA commodities, which can be anything from canned fruit and vegetables to cooking oil to elbow macaroni -- basic food essentials found in any pantry. After volunteers bag the commodities they are then distributed as a nutritional aid to low-income families, senior citizens and the working poor. The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, is a branch of USDA that specializes in distributing food to families.

FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, is an independent agency of the federal government. The mission of FEMA is, "to reduce loss of life and property and protect our nation's critical infrastructure from all types of hazards through a comprehensive, risk-based, emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery." At the Foodbank we act as administrators of the FEMA program, ensuring that nutritionally balanced food is distributed properly.