Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore was launched in September 1980 as a project of the STOP organization, with a $5,000 Community Services Administration grant. It initially operated "hand-to-mouth", from a location at 141 Dorset Avenue, Virginia Beach. By February 1981, 48,486 lb of food had been received, to the Foodbank upon its dissolution. SHARE Mid-Atlantic merged with Foodbank SEVA (with the corporate entity unchanged), with the food bank's self-help model was regarded as complementing traditional charitable endeavours. The organisation's thrift store became a profit centre. In July 2025, the Foodbank proposed a new 103,000-square-foot regional warehouse and distribution hub on Dam Neck Road in Virginia Beach. The Planning Commission unanimously backed the rezoning request, highlighting the project's ability to double dry-goods storage and triple perishable capacity. Plans also included raised gardens, on-site farming areas, and preserved tree buffers to ease community concerns. In August 2025, the Virginia Beach City Council unanimously approved the rezoning, giving the project its official green light. Backed by the $25 million "Setting the Table" capital campaign—with $9.5 million already raised—the Foodbank announced a two-to-three-year construction timeline. The new hub is designed to become the region's largest hunger-relief distribution center, supporting more than 200 partner agencies across Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. == Programs and services ==

Kids' Cafe Launched in April 1999 at the Colonial and Diggs Town Boys & Girls Clubs, Kids Cafe Mobile pantry Launched with grant funding around 2011, the Mobile Pantry is designed to serve residents in rural areas and communities without nearby food pantries or grocery stores. The pantry operates out of temperature-controlled trucks and delivers both shelf-stable and perishable items directly to designated neighborhoods. Izzie's Field – farm to foodbank Izzie's Field is an initiative that partners with local agricultural organizations to supply produce for Foodbank clients. Supported by Kroger, New Life Church, Pop Son Farm, and Hubbard Peanut Company, the program incorporates locally grown food into distribution efforts. == Volunteerism ==

In 2015, the Foodbank completed an 8-week Service Enterprise certification program through Volunteer Hampton Roads and Points of Light, as a recognition for high-level volunteer engagement and management. This certification was renewed in 2018 and 2022. == Leadership ==

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is a member of Feeding America and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. In 2021, PRA Group donated $100,000 to the Foodbank's BackPack Program, which supplies food for children on weekends and holidays. PRA Group has since expanded its support through additional contributions and volunteer participation. Perdue Farms has also supported the BackPack Program through grants and food donations on the Eastern Shore. In 2022, the Foodbank opened a 17,000-square-foot branch in Franklin, serving the Western Tidewater region. The facility was funded by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the Obici Healthcare Foundation, Hubbard Peanut Company, and other local partners. In 2023, the Foodbank partnered with the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters and Rite Aid Healthy Futures to distribute food to families through pediatric care sites. == References ==