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Virginia Peninsula Food Bank says $100,000 investment will back local programs to serve thousands
Summary
The Peninsula Food Bank told the York County board that a $100,000 investment will support child‑nutrition backpacks, Kids Cafe, culinary training and mobile pantry distributions; the bank said York County’s food insecurity rate is about 11.3% (≈7,080 people).
The Virginia Peninsula Food Bank briefed the York County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 about rising local food insecurity and how a recently received $100,000 investment will be used to boost services across the Peninsula, including in York County.
"Every dollar we receive equates to about three meals," said Micah Gregorian, communications, marketing and advocacy manager for the food bank. Gregorian told supervisors the bank uses Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap data to estimate local need and reported that roughly 11.3% of York County residents — about 7,080 people — experience food insecurity during the year.
Gregorian described the programs the funding will support: the Food for Kids backpack program (the food bank packs roughly 1,500 bags weekly for participating schools), the Kids Cafe evening meal sites, a culinary training program whose students prepare hundreds of meals a day, summer breakfast/lunch distributions, expanded fresh‑produce school markets, and mobile food pantry distributions in Yorktown and elsewhere on the Peninsula.
The food bank also operates partner‑agency distributions (more than 120 partner agencies regionwide; about six partner agencies in York County currently), commodity programs for seniors (CSFP and TEFAP), a community pantry in partnership with Sentara, and a neighbor‑to‑neighbor food rescue initiative that redistributes unsold grocery items.
Board members asked about the impact of the recent federal SNAP disruption; Gregorian said the shutdown drove a 20–30% surge in demand at distributions and mobile pantries because SNAP recipients often turn to the food bank when benefits pause. He added the food bank’s annual distribution totals are substantial — the bank reported having distributed roughly 9 million meals in 2025 — and that donated funds allow the organization to purchase critically needed items such as frozen proteins.
Chair Missus Knoll and other supervisors thanked the food bank for the work and encouraged residents to donate either food or money, noting that cash donations can be stretched further through the bank’s purchasing power.
The food bank invited board members and the community to upcoming distributions, including a monthly mobile pantry at Coastal Community Church in Yorktown.
