VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Mayflower Marathon kicked off in Hampton Roads on Friday morning, a 57-hour food and fund drive that occurs the weekend before Thanksgiving every year.
The drive takes place from Friday to Sunday and has several drop-off locations across the 757, provided by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, and the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank.
Red and blue lights filled the Pembroke Mall parking lot Friday. The only emergency was to feed the community.
“We live in the community," said VBPD Officer Charlotte Mayberry. "We work in the community.”
The Virginia Beach Police Department, Sheriff’s Office and EMS unloaded 16 vehicles full of food. Mayberry said donations came from all over the city.
“We reached out to hotels, motels at the Oceanfront, restaurants down there, our citizens advisory committee, schools," she said.
The items kicked off this year’s Mayflower Marathon Food Drive, benefitting food banks across the 757.
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia COO Bob Latvis watched the community come together for the cause in 2020, and hopes to exceed that this holiday season.
“Last year we had an outstanding turnout," said Latvis. "We were able to provide 1.1 million meals.”
He said there are plenty of opportunities for people to give.
“All weekend long, especially 57 hours straight," Latvis said. "The location at Pembroke is going to be running 24 hours a day.”
Turkeys are the golden-ticket donation item.
“Between the Peninsula Food Bank and Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, there are nearly 250,000 food insecure individuals," Latvis said.
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore has a shopping list and the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has a list of most needed items.
Where you can donate
Pembroke Mall (behind Target) in Virginia Beach: The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore will have continuous service until Sunday at 3 p.m. The address is 4554 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462.
Kroger Marketplace in Suffolk: The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore will have service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The address is 1017 University Blvd,
Suffolk, VA 23435.
Kroger in Tabb/Yorktown: The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank will have service 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The address is 5007 Victory Blvd, Yorktown, VA 23693.
Kroger in Hampton: The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank will have continuous service until Sunday at 3 p.m. The address is 1050 W Mercury Blvd, Hampton, VA 23666.