VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — FM99 and 106.9 The Fox are hosting their 28th annual Mayflower Marathon Food Drive this weekend.
People can donate at five sites across Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina from 5:30 a.m. Friday until 3 p.m. Sunday.
Donations for the Mayflower Marathon Food Drive began pouring in at Lynn Haven Mall in Virginia Beach Friday morning.
“I feel that I’m feeding them, and they won’t have to worry,” Rosemary Johnson, a Mayflower Marathon donor said.
Rosemary Johnson said she arrived to drop off goods and pay it forward because she knows the challenges some people are facing.
“The mom won’t have to say what are we going to do, because I know how it feels,” said Johnson.
Every Mayflower Marathon donation has been greeted with a joyful cheer.
Mallory Reckling with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore says the goal is to provide 750,000 meals to families in need.
“We just want to make it easier for families to enjoy this festive and fun time of year,” said Reckling.
To reach that goal, more than 700 volunteers are working to gather goods that will be sent to local food banks.
Volunteer Jason Bosher is giving his time willingly to know the impact of providing help and hope during the holidays.
“When you see the people coming through and the smiles on their faces as they’re donating,” Bosher said. “It’s just a great cause.”
The food drive continues through the weekend, ending Sunday at 3 p.m.
People can drop off non-perishable foods, Thanksgiving side dishes, turkeys, and charitable donations.
The donation locations are as follows:
- Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach
- Kroger Marketplace at 1017 University Blvd. in Suffolk
- Kroger at 1050 W. Mercury Blvd. at Coliseum Central in Hampton
- Kroger at 5007-2 Victory Blvd.
- Moyock Welcome Center in Moyock, NC.