Feed More

Feed More has had a presence in Central Virginia for over five decades. Meals on Wheels was established in 1967, and served just eight clients, and the Central Virginia Food Bank has been in operation since 1980. The Central Virginia Food Bank was created by 60 local churches and charities that were concerned about growing hunger and poverty in the region. Feed More was created in 2008, when these two venerable organizations merged following a successful collaborative campaign to build a commercial production kitchen. The efficiencies created by this merger enabled Feed More to expand programming. Feed More recently completed a $19.5 million campaign that allowed us to build an additional distribution site in South Hill to better serve our agencies to the south, provided support for program growth, and significantly grew our endowment to ensure that our programs are available in an uncertain future.

Feed More’s seeks to provide all our neighbors facing food insecurity with healthy, nutritious meals and grocery products. Last fiscal year, 40% of our distributed food was fresh produce and we are working to maintain this high level of distribution in upcoming years. Additionally, Feed More works to source food that is culturally inclusive to all communities, ensuring that every client receives food that they are comfortable with and excited about. We are looking for further expand our culturally inclusive options through dedicated Partner Agencies and partnerships with retailers.

At Feed More, we understand that food security is tightly interwoven with other issues surrounding poverty. Therefore, we are working to address more than just hunger. Our Meals on Wheels program helps combat social isolation and the issues that may occur, such as depression, anxiety, and health concerns. Our programs distribute nutritious foods to help stave off obesity, heart conditions, and more that may be a result of client’s purchasing cheaper but unhealthy options. Feed More’s Wellness Pantries, in partnership with VCU Health Clinics, provide clients with nutrition resources as well as immediate food relief.

Feed More is able to work towards our goals with our network of nearly 300 Partner Agencies to distribute food across 34 counties and cities in Central Virginia, ensuring we can reach the communities stretching from the Northern Neck to the North Carolina border.

Our food sourcing team works closely with local grocery stores and retailers to ensure healthy, nutritious foods are available to our programs. Additionally, the Bayard Community Kitchen is on-site and prepares fresh, made-from-scratch meals that are delivered directly to Children’s Programs and Meals on Wheels clients daily.

Feed More is a proud member of Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America. Additionally, as Central Virginia’s core hunger-relief and charitable food distribution organization, Feed More is part of local and regional emergency preparedness plans, partnering with Virginia Department of Emergency Management, VOAD, the City of Richmond, and the American Red Cross of Central Virginia.

In collaboration with our partner agencies, Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, and retailers, Feed More has several other strongholds that allow us to meet our goals and continue to serve those in need. Feed More’s Distribution Center, Community Kitchen, and warehouse allow for food to be prepared and collected on-site, then directly shipped to agencies and distribution sites using our fleet of trucks and vans.

Feed More’s volunteers are the heart of our mission; with as many as 200 volunteers every single day, our programs are able to deliver and distribute meals and food products daily. Volunteers perform a variety of tasks, including but not limited to operating our Hunger Hotline and providing resources to clients seeking immediate food assistance; preparing food in the Community Kitchen; packaging and labeling meals for Meals on Wheels; sorting and organizing food donations in our warehouse; delivering meals for Meals on Wheels; and assisting with administrative tasks in the office.

Feed More has a enthusiastic staff of more than 100 employees that work to ensure the success of our programs. Feed More’s strategic plan incorporates employee development and looks to invest in employees through trainings, mission engagement, and wellness promotion. Ensuring our staff has the tools to succeed allows us to be proactive and effective when it comes to serving our clients.

Feed More receives generous support from our community, allowing us to continue to provide food for our neighbors. Our dedicated donors, whether individuals, foundations, local businesses, or local government, drive our mission forward every day.

Feed More responded to the pandemic swiftly and effectively, having to shift many of our programs and operations to adjust. Many of our neighbors were faced with food-insecurity and uncertainty as their jobs and schools closed. Meals on Wheels switched to weekly delivery instead of daily, serving frozen meals to last the entire week. Many Children’s Programs had to adjust schedules as children were no longer in schools. However, throughout it all, Feed More distributed 32 million pounds of food in FY2020 and nearly 40 million pounds of food in FY2021.

As we see restrictions lifting and we find a new normal, Feed More is once again adjusting to the current climate. Meals on Wheels has returned to daily delivery through an outstanding effort between our Clients Services and Volunteer Services team. They recruited nearly 1,000 volunteers to ensure that our clients are able to receive a fresh meal and see a friendly volunteer every day. Children are back in schools and our Children’s Programs are working with schools and after-school programs to provide food these children and their families. The need is greater than ever in Central Virginia, with Feeding America projecting an additional 25,000 individuals and 30,000 more children that faced food-insecurity in 2021 than in 2019.

Feed More continues to look towards the future as we meet the increasing need for food in our region. One of current focuses is sourcing food that is culturally inclusive, particularly of Hispanic, Asian, and Indigenous American populations. Feed More is also working to expand our Wellness Pantries by establishing more pantries and offering more resources to as many clients as we can reach, including home delivered food and grocery products.