Reaching rural neighbors: Produce boxes

In the Western Region (Verona) distribution center, volunteers pack produce boxes. Previously, the Food Bank purchased pre-packed produce boxes from an external supplier for guests at our Mobile Food Pantries. These mobile distributions are a lifeline for individuals and families across our service area who have limited access to grocery stores and fresh produce. This year, thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, we are transitioning to packing all our produce boxes onsite in our Verona headquarters. This significant shift will not only save the Food Bank more than $100,000 annually but also ensure our guests receive higher quality, fresher produce.

Supporting seniors: Reach and CSFP programs 

In the Eastern Region (Charlottesville) distribution center, volunteers pack two different boxes aimed at providing shelf-stable staples for seniors with low incomes. One is part of a nationwide USDA program known as the Commodity Supplemental Nutrition Program (CSFP). Recognizing that many seniors may not qualify for this program , we developed the Reach program. This program provides food purchased by the Food Bank to seniors who still need food assistance but can’t access the USDA program. Together, these programs are known as Senior Food Boxes. Each year, volunteers pack more than 30,000 senior food boxes to serve the needs of seniors throughout our service area.

Nourishing students: Break Boxes  

Volunteers in the Northern Region (Winchester) pack Break Boxes. These nutrition boxes are filled with several meals to support students during school breaks. Breaks from school can create financial strain for families who rely on school breakfast and lunch programs to ensure their children have enough nutritious food to eat. The food in these boxes is carefully selected with the whole family in mind, providing enough food for students and their households. Break Boxes are distributed across our 25-county service area through our network of partners who are dedicated to child nutrition access.

Providing immediate relief: Emergency Food Boxes 

Volunteers in all four of our distribution centers regularly assemble Emergency Food Boxes. These boxes weigh about 30 pounds and include ingredients to provide meals for a week. Items for these boxes come directly from food donated by community members, mostly collected during food drives.

Reaching our community: Where do these boxes go? 

Our nutrition boxes reach the community through a wide variety of paths: 

• Directly from our distribution centers: Emergency Food Boxes are distributed right through Food Bank doors, when neighbors don’t know where to turn. We provide immediate sustenance and a list of local pantry partners. 

• Through our programs: Produce, Reach, and CSFP boxes are distributed through Food Bank programs like Mobile Food Pantries, Neighborhood Produce Markets, and Good Food School Markets.

• Through our many partners: Break Boxes and Senior Food Boxes are distributed across our service area through our many partners such as schools, food pantries, and other community organizations. To learn more about the Food Bank’s impact and our network of partners, check out this page on our website.  

Thanks to the invaluable contributions of our volunteers, both within our warehouses and out at food distributions, we are able to help neighbors get the healthy food they need through the distribution of our nutrition boxes. Every nutrition box packed and every hour given helps provide comfort, stability, and hope to our neighbors. Thank you to our volunteers for their incredible support and dedication!