Henrico Community Food Bank, Virginia DSS helping citizens in need
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To help Henrico residents struggling to afford basic necessities, the Henrico Community Food Bank plans to scale up its distribution, and the Virginia Department of Social Services is distributing federal funds to cover water bills.
The food bank, which recently celebrated its first year of existence, has served more than 350 families during that time, according to founder and Executive Director Sudeshna Das-Menezes. They are just some of the 30,000 people with food insecurity in Henrico County, Das-Menezes told the Henrico Board of Supervisors during an Oct. 25 work session. Volunteers drop off groceries daily, which improves accessibility and limits exposure to COVID-19, she said.
The county gave seed money to establish the organization and provide space for food drives, employee donations, and co-hosting food drives, according to Das-Menezes.
About five families receive deliveries on a typical day, but there are plans to hire a full-time operations manager to increase deliveries, Das-Menezes said. While there are no paid members on staff, the organization has 86 volunteers and board members.
“Unfortunately, feeding people is an expensive business,” Das-Menezes said. “And I can tell you right now our food costs are pretty exponential. And if we decide to scale up to even 10 families a day, our food budget is going to be about $50,000.”
Das-Menezes stressed the importance of a communal effort in tackling food insecurity. The food bank will continue to build partnerships in the community, which currently include the Better Housing Coalition and public school system, Das-Menezes said. The food bank also needs a storage facility, reliable vehicles, and continued funding.
Das-Menezes told the board that some residents she’s met throughout her year with the food bank now rely upon its services and often worry about not receiving a delivery.
“For us, to be able to keep the promises that we've made to these folks is really critical,” she said. “And we need your support, we need everyone's support in the community because it cannot just be this one organization.”
Working families aren’t spending frivolously, Das-Menezes said. The increasing cost of food (which officials only expect to continue rising) , and other essentials is further squeezing families.
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Meanwhile, low-income residents who are struggling to pay their water bills may find relief through the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, Henrico Public Utilities Director Bentley Chan told supervisors.
The program is a continuation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and American Rescue Plan Act funding, which helped about 12,000 utility customers during the pandemic, Chan said. A total of $22.5 million for Virginians largely will be distributed through the social services through Sept. 1, 2023, or when funds are depleted, he said.
To be eligible, households must have passed through balances and have an income 150% below the federal poverty level based upon household size.
“We have about 35,000 customers who are a day or more past due on their bills,” Chan said. “So that coupled with the low income, there’s possibility to help a lot of residents in the county.”
The program also will delay disconnection for at least 90 days, he said.
Some supervisors expressed concern about the ability of the program to help people who are still paying their bills but are barely able to do so.
People will be informed of the program through postcards, phone calls, and text messages, Chan said. To apply, visit virginiaalihwap.com or call (888) 373-9908.
