NORFOLK, Va. - If you or someone you know is in need of groceries or clothes, a food pantry in Norfolk is helping folks by offering them for free.
Every fourth Sunday of the month, the Village Family Food Pantry is at First Calvary Baptist Church from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., offering free groceries, clothes, and more. Organizer say it’s a blessing to help families in need especially during the pandemic.
"Anything we can do to help them, that’s why we’re out here. And it gives great satisfaction to bless someone else, the less fortunate," Robin Samuel said, a board member of the Village Family Food Pantry.
Samuel says since the pandemic started there has been an increase in more people needing help.
"Things don’t come easy. The pandemic has made it even harder for people. Since the pandemic, its gone up to 500 because a lot of people lost their jobs," Samuels said.
Tre Hailes and his family were financially impacted by the pandemic and the groceries help out a lot.
"Sometimes people run out of money. Working people run out of money so it’s real important for them to have stuff like this because people are less fortunate."
Timothy James says since there are no groceries nearby and he has a hard time getting to the store. He tells me the food pantry is like a safe haven for him.
"This neighborhood, I don’t know if you knew, its like a food market desert. I got some beans. I like pork and beans. I got a big can of them too so it will be a lot of bean and hot dog days."
One volunteer says the impacts that the pandemic has caused on the community motivates him to volunteer.
"Just seeing the look on some of the people’s faces when there just surprised that some of the stuff they have out here is actually a lot of brand new stuff," Carnell Sanderlon said.
To support homeless families and individuals across Hampton Roads, Village Family says individuals can provide a donation or can also request to be a community donation site partner by calling 757-656-9577.
For more information, click here.
