AmeriCorps Special MLK Day of Service

On Monday, January 20th, Virginia Veterans Corps (VVC) members served at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore’s Special MLK Day of Service Event. Community groups, families and individuals gathered at the Foodbank to organize, sort and pack to be distributed to individuals and families in need through the Mobile Food Pantry Program. VVC Service members along with congregants from a local Synagogue were partnered together and packed over 330 bags of food. Service members formed two lines, one for distributing, and the second for bagging items. Each bag contained canned goods, peanut butter and pasta.

Service members were enthusiastic at serving at this event and stated that they “enjoyed the service project and felt good knowing they were preparing food packs for those in need.” After, packing the food bags members received information on daily operations and had the opportunity to take a tour of the Foodbank’s renovated facility.

In 2012, VVC Service members in conjunction with AARP Virginia and other AmeriCorps sites collected over 100,000 pounds of food which were donated to help supply Virginia’s Foodbanks. This is the 2nd year VVC Service Members served at the Foodbank in observance of the MLK Holiday. In 2012, members sorted over 1,200 pounds of food, continuing the efforts of area volunteers focused on assisting The Foodbank with their mission of eliminating hunger in the local community. According to Volunteer Bites, The Foodbank’s volunteer newsletter, area volunteers donated over 41,000 hours of service helping to distribute 14.2 million meals.