NORFOLK, Va. — With students home for the summer, one local foodbank is making sure every child in Hampton Roads is fed.
Right now, Tiffani Brown is a one-person team behind the kitchen at the Grandy Village Boys and Girls Club in Norfolk preparing breakfast for children in the neighborhood. “I know now I’m going to at least have another person,” Brown, the unit director at Grandy Village Boys and Girls Club.
She said she expects to see several hungry children as the summer progresses.
“They’ll come in and get a plate, go sit down and eat,” Brown said.
She knows firsthand how important it is to have food for them. “I’m from Norfolk and there isn’t much for kids on this side,” she said.
This summer food service is part of a bigger effort to feed children in Hampton Roads.
“It gives us an opportunity to make sure that the 35,000 kids that are food insecure during the summer have a place to go to get some food,” said Chris Tan, the CEO of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is participating in a federal program feeding children during the summer.
“Some kids in our community are getting two of their meals at school every day," Tan said. "The opportunities that we have to provide resources for families in the summer are really critical.”
The Foodbank will provide meals to seven locations across South Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore. Staff at Grandy Village Boys & Girls Club say this is the first time they’re offering this service to students.
“They do not have to be a member to come grab a plate," Brown said. "So, I think it’s a great opportunity because you don’t really know who’s missing that meal now that school is out.”
Brown and her team are planning for a busy summer. Though she’s also preparing to start another venture at the Boys and Girls Club, offering hot meals to students year-round.
"I've eaten the meals before," she said. "I know how satisfying and fulfilling they are...to actually give them a hot meal every day."
Meals through the summer food service program will be provided Monday through Friday on a first-come, first-serve basis. Here are the times and locations for meal pick-up:
EASTERN SHORE
- June 20 – August 25, 2023
Eastern Shore Boys & Girls Club, 24577 Mary N. Smith Road (Accomac)
Breakfast: 7:30 am – 9:30 am
Lunch: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
NORFOLK
- June 20 – August 18, 2023
Grandy Village Boys & Girls Club, 3017 Kimball Terrace
Breakfast: 8:30 – 9:30 am
Lunch: 12:30 – 1:30 pm - June 20 – August 18, 2023
Southside Boys & Girls Club, Berkley Unit, 701 Berkley Avenue Extension
Breakfast: 9 – 10 am
Lunch: 11:30 am – 1 pm - June 20 – August 18, 2023
Young Terrace Boys & Girls Club, 804 Whitaker Lane
Lunch 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Afternoon Snack 4 – 5 pm - June 26 – August 25, 2023
The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of Hampton Roads, 1401 Ballentine Boulevard
Breakfast 9 - 9:45 am
Lunch 12:15 - 1 pm
PORTSMOUTH
- June 20 – August 25, 2023
Portsmouth Boys & Girls Club 5905 Portsmouth Boulevard
Breakfast: 8 – 9 am
Lunch: 12 – 1 pm
SUFFOLK
- June 26 – August 18, 2023
Suffolk Boys & Girls Club, Forest Glen Unit 200 Forest Glen Drive
Breakfast: 8:30am – 9:30am
Lunch: 12:30 – 1:30 pm