CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) – It was a busy Tuesday morning at the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center as 400 boxes of food, toiletries and a case of water were donated to families in need.

“These are essential foods for the home pantry, kid-friendly foods, even for families, and also everyday items: shampoos, soaps, you know, things that kids need,” said Kim Hill, executive director of the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center.

Chester’s families rely on food banks for supplies of these items as prices have skyrocketed – a pattern that organizers say began after COVID.

Tuesday’s fundraiser was hosted by national organization Feed The Children. The organization said 9% of families in Chester live below the poverty line.

“Before our Feed The Children truck pulled into the parking lot this morning, there were a lot of families lined up saying, we’ve been here before and we didn’t want to miss this opportunity because my family really needs this,” said Coco Black of the organization.

Many of the people attending this event were seniors, as many of them struggle with food insecurity. The National Council on Aging said that more than 100,000 seniors in Virginia are eligible for food assistance programs like SNAP but are not taking advantage of them.

“Older Virginians may have felt that the benefits they were receiving were not worth the hassle of applying, re-certifying, interviewing, etc. But we just want to encourage people that there is help out there to help them and that every donation, no matter how small, helps, especially with the high food prices we are experiencing right now,” said Eddie Oliver, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.

Volunteers organized the flow of cars into two lanes and loaded them with 25-pound boxes.

Jasmyne Bell, a volunteer, said she understands the hardship many people are in.

“I grew up in a not very happy family and we always needed help here and there, so if you get the opportunity, it’s a great thing,” Bell said.

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