5 Food Donation SItes to Support in Richmond
Driving down Arthur Ashe Boulevard last weekend, I noticed the twinkle of a Christmas tree glowing from inside an apartment. Early adopters or not, the holiday season is here. While we all begin the treacherous task of completing our holiday shopping and preparing meals for friends and family, this time of the year always reminds me the importance of helping the community and giving back to people without expendable income to use on toys, fancy meals and other holiday traditions.
Richmonders like to call themselves small town folk living in a big city, and with that connection breeds a shared interest in helping one another. I recently sat down with a nonprofit leader at one of the biggest organizations in the city, and she said, “Richmond has the most supportive nonprofit community of any city in the country.”
So, to help our city live up to its charitable and giving reputation, here are five food donation sites to distribute food ahead of the holidays. Many of the places have boxes open 24/7, so there’s no excuse to let any food go to waste.
— by Andrew Knight, Contributing Writer (and the brains behind RVA James River Fishing Report. Follow him @rvajamesriverfishreport!)
Feed More
It’s hard to live in Richmond and not know the name Feed More. If you’re like me and take I-64 to work every morning, the Feed More buildings, painted with their logo in large green and blue lettering, jump out alongside the VCU Rams billboard and remind me to make an annual donation. The regional food bank has been active in the city for over 50 years and distributes more than 30 million meals to people who struggle with food insecurity. Feed More welcomes all types of food donations throughout the year, which include:
Perishable food: You can drop off perishable food donations at 1601 Rhoadmiller St, Richmond 23220. Go to the Community Donation Door (it’s the door with oranges on it) Tuesday – Friday from noon - 4:00p.m., and Feed More’s staff will help you unload your donations.
Nonperishable food: You can donate nonperishable food donations anytime in the orange bins in the parking lot, located right by the main entrance.
Don’t let your impact stop with a donation. Volunteer your time or encourage your business to spend a morning sorting and preparing food items at the Food Bank by visiting the site here.
Location: 1415 Rhoadmiller St (The Diamond District)
Hours: 24/7 (see above for perishable donations)
RVA Community Fridges
If you’ve ever walked by a colorfully decorated refrigerator with the words “FREE FOOD” written in big letters, odds are you’ve been in the presence of Taylor Scott’s rapidly growing nonprofit RVA Community Fridges. The idea is simple: Plug in a fridge and leave it open for community members to donate fresh food for anyone who faces hunger.
Since its inception in early 2020, Taylor’s fridges have become a wonderful resource for people facing food insecurity throughout RVA, especially given their availability at all hours of the day. Local farms have started donating fruits and vegetables, and there are now 13 different fridges located across the region. Each fridge is accompanied with a shelf for nonperishable food items.
Volunteers help check the status of each fridge, donate food, and keep the energy going strong, and anyone can make food donations. Learn more about how to help by visiting the site here.
Locations:
2025 Venable St
3511 P St
2414 Hull St
3200 Dill Ave
Meadowbridge Rd
3613 Meadowbridge Rd
2614 W Cary St
3300 W Clay St
4809 Parker St
4700 Oakleys Ln
309 Covington Rd
3701 E River Rd
Hours: 24/7
Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton
On the third Friday of each month, the Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton provides 50 families living in the neighborhood with a fresh selection of food, including vegetables and fruit, some of which are grown locally on site. But the Center is always looking for additional food resources, and residents can drop off nonperishable food items to help ensure each bag is full, especially with Thanksgiving and other holidays fast approaching.
If you’re interested in donating food, be sure the food is clean and not expired. The Center also asks that people call ahead to schedule a time to drop off food. If you happen to be around the garden during your drop off, say hello to my good friend and the spot’s resident gardener, Ryan Ott!
Location: 1519 Williamsburg Rd (Fulton Hill)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 am - 6 pm
Fonticello Food Forest
From noon to 2 pm every Wednesday, Fonticello Food Forest staff and volunteers gather at the Little Free Pantry and Farmstand in Carter Jones Park, located just east of Forest Hill Park, to distribute fresh food to people facing hunger. The organization welcomes food donations during its in-person Wednesday distributions and encourages volunteers to help in the garden.
If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t worry! Part of Fonticello’s mission is to introduce new people to community gardening to expand the resource and better serve the needs of people fighting hunger in Richmond.
According to a VPM article, the Southside of Richmond was labeled by the US Department of Agriculture as a “food desert,” so be a part of the solution and stop by on a Wednesday this holiday season.
Location: 2713 Bainbridge St (Swansboro)
Hours: Wednesday, 12 - 2 pm
Henrico Community Food Bank
With over 30,000 neighbors in Henrico County facing hunger, Henrico Community Food Bank’s Sudeshna Das-Menezes saw a need for food assistance in her local community and decided to act. What started as a small meal prep operation has significantly expanded into a full-scale resource for people who are food insecure. Like some of the other Food Banks on the list, Henrico Community Food Bank has its own garden, which provides neighbors with fresh fruits and vegetables in season.
Henrico Community Food Bank focuses its distribution efforts on mobile deliveries to ensure all neighbors across the region can access food without transportation getting in the way. So, the office is not public-facing; it’s more of a means to accept donations and sort food items.
Like all food banks, cash donations are always appreciated, but the Henrico Community Food Bank welcomes community members to drop off food throughout the week.
Some of the most needed items include:
Cereal
Pasta and pasta sauce
Peanut butter
Jelly
Mac ‘n cheese
Chef Boyardee canned pasta
Canned tuna
Canned fruit
Green beans
Corn
Peas
Mixed vegetable
Rice
Canned tomatoes
Canned beans
Locations: Call (804) 549-6609 to arrange donations and locate the food bank.
Other ways to support the community:
