Q: What are the benefits of becoming a member agency of the Foodbank?   

A: Let us do food gathering for you. One of our principal missions is to empower our community. Releasing your time, energy and resources to provide services to low-income people rather than beating the bushes looking for food donations is one of the most profound gifts we can give to our member agencies. Leveraging your funds and gifts with our resources means greater efficiency for all of our organizations. Additionally, our experience with a broad array of anti-hunger projects allows us to provide technical assistance to any member agency regarding everything from program models to safe food handling and storage to nutrition self-suffiency training allowing our organizations to offer not only a hand out, but more importantly a hand up.

Q: How does my agency become a FoodBank partner?

A: Your agency must first meet the general requirements set by the Food Bank to become a partner. You must be a non-profit, that serves needy individuals/families free of charge.

Q: What geographic area does the FoodBank serve?

A: If your agency is a non-profit that is located in one of our 9 jurisdictions you are may be eligible to participate as a member agency of the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula.

Q: Are there any requirements regarding the number of persons served by our agency?

A: Food Bank partner agencies can be of any size, serving a few people or thousands. All Foodbank product is available to be distributed by our member agencies to low-income and at-risk populations only.

Q: How does my agency start receiving food?

A: All approved member agencies are invited to select "shoppers" who will be able to shop in our warehouse. All shoppers must complete an orientation class prior to their first time shopping at the Foodbank.

Q: Does the Foodbank charge for the food? Is there a membership fee?

A: There is a yearly $125.00 membership fee which is prorated based on the month your organization seeks membership. We do expect our member agencies to help with a portion of our storage and transportation costs. This comes to us in the form of a "Shared Maintenance Contribution," which is a handling fee assessed by pounds of food received. This Share Contribution is 19 cents per pound. For every dollar a member agency contributes to the Foodbank, they receive over $10 retail worth of products.

Q: How does an agency make this reimbursement?

A: The Foodbank accepts only a member agency's organizational check. We cannot accept personal checks, credit cards or cash. Some member agencies reimburse the Shared Maintenance Fee monthly, others do so as they shop.

Q: How often and when can we shop?

A: Currently, there is no limit to the frequency of shopping trips to the Foodbank. However, there are limits to quantities of some items available during any one visit. Shopping hours are Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m. on Wednesdays.

Q: Does the Foodbank deliver?

A: Only on a limited basis. Member agencies who shop at the Foodbank, provide their own transportation.

Q: Where does the Foodbank food come from?

A: Food and products are donated by various manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, caterers, food drives and individuals; food is also supplied by USDA programs and purchased.

Q: What kind of food is available?

A: The Food Bank receives almost any kind of product that may be found in a grocery store, including perishable and non-perishable items.