NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Peninsula organization celebrated the completion of renovations made to its new facility.
One year ago, THRIVE Peninsula bought a new building on Nettles Drive to expand its services. Organization members have worked out of the facility since November.
“We had moved into basically a construction zone," said Angela York, the executive director of THRIVE Peninsula. "The paint had not yet dried. We were still moving things around.”
One thing they did have operational was The Market at THRIVE, the Peninsula’s first free grocery store.
“The families who are shopping here love it," York said. "Some walk in here and are emotional at just the site of having a grocery store setting.”
Residents of Newport News, Hampton or York County are eligible to visit the store every 30 days, by appointment only. The store aims to connect struggling families with fresh and healthy foods in a stigma-free environment.
York said a raised bed garden allows them to grow produce on-site.
“That can support the market and supplement some of the things we know we can’t get,” she explained.
York said the store is serving more than 2,000 people each month. Now that facility renovations are complete, the organization is introducing more resources to the community.
On Tuesday, community residents along with state and local leaders toured the new facility.
“We have a bookstore presented by REACH Reads [Inc.] that provides brand new books to children and youth,” she said.
All books are supplied by REACH Reads, Inc. which offers The Big Free Bookstore in Norfolk. The building includes the Level Up Financial Wing for financial assistance and education and a conference room to host training workshops. Mayor Phillip Jones said the new site will help more people in the area.
“At THRIVE, you and your team work to remove those barriers,” Mayor Jones said. “THRIVE can meet the growing demand for its services and provide support.”
York said the new building encompasses the mission behind the organization.
“We wanted to create a space that felt more like a community center," she said. "So that anyone would feel like they could come here and get assistance.”