Did you know that more than 165,000 people in Central Virginia are food insecure? That means that many of our neighbors are struggling to access healthy food for themselves and their families. Perhaps they’ve just been laid off, they’ve become unhoused, or they simply don’t have the funds to buy food. These individuals, families, and children often don’t know when their next meal will be or where it will come from. They often rely on community resources, such as food banks to access shelf-stable foods or mobile food services for prepared meals. It may be a short-term struggle for some, but for others, it may require ongoing support due to events beyond their control. A struggle with hunger is not always obvious, and it’s not always easy for someone to ask for help.
One organization working to fight food insecurity and hunger in Virginia is Feed More. For almost 60 years, Feed More has been collecting, preparing, and distributing food to community members throughout Central Virginia. Their programs are designed to help people of all ages, as food insecurity doesn’t discriminate – it can impact families, adults, teens, and children. Because we never know when food insecurity will happen or who it will impact, organizations like Feed More lead with empathy and grace, treating every recipient of their programs as a neighbor and friend.
As we consider what hunger looks like today, especially in our community, Feed More provides a clear perspective. They say the face of hunger isn’t what you think. The neighbors we serve are working one or more jobs and are still living paycheck to paycheck. When an unexpected medical expense or car trouble hits, their savings are depleted. Then they’re forced to make tough choices between basic necessities – pay the electricity bill or buy healthy groceries for themselves and their families.
Over the last six decades, Feed More has evolved from a small food assistance program into a thriving organization, delivering more than 39 million pounds of food to those in need each year. By developing new programs, partnering with businesses and schools, and recently expanding their distribution center, Feed More continues to meet the changing needs of our community.
“We are Central Virginia’s core hunger relief organization. We want to make sure more people are fed tomorrow than they were today,” shares Aaron McClung, Chief Development Officer at Feed More. “We try to do everything we can to make sure that no one in our community goes hungry. That’s what we do day in and day out.”
Feed More Through the Years
Feed More has grown from a small operation into a thriving network of support. Through iterations, expansions, mergers, and overall growth, one thing has remained true: the mission has always been to help members of the community in need, aiming to provide everyone with access to healthy meals and groceries when needed most.
The organization’s humble beginnings can be traced back to 1967, when the first Meals on Wheels program was established in the Greater Richmond area, serving fewer than 10 clients at the time. Meals on Wheels programs are food delivery services that help people worldwide, commonly managed by non-profit organizations and made possible thanks to volunteers. The goal of Meals on Wheels is to provide balanced meals and socialization to individuals who may not have access to a store or the ability to cook for themselves. By bringing meals directly to the doorsteps of those in need, they provide not only hot, nutritious meals but also an opportunity for connection and a daily dose of comfort that is just as important to a person’s overall well-being.
Thirteen years later, in 1980, hunger and poverty were growing concerns in the Central Virginia region. In an effort to support a larger population than ever before, 60 local charities and churches came together to create the Central Virginia Food Bank. Unlike Meals on Wheels, food banks focus on collecting and distributing shelf-stable food to those in need, but do not typically provide prepared meals. For the next 25 years, both the Meals on Wheels program and the Central Virginia Food Bank continued to make food more accessible throughout the region in their own ways.
In 2005, the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels joined forces to build their first local Community Kitchen. This new space allowed them to prepare high-quality, nutritious meals from scratch for even more people. The venture ultimately led to the formal merger of the two organizations on July 1, 2008, to create the Feed More we know today.
The Mission and Impact of Feed More
Feed More is one of the most prominent organizations fighting food insecurity across Central Virginia. They’re feeding neighbors when they need it most and forming strategic partnerships to expand their network. Today, they offer various programs, including a Meals on Wheels program, a growing network of food pantry partners, and a handful of programs specifically designed for children.
Feed More has established a network of nearly 400 locations where community members can access food for themselves and their families. From churches tocommunity centers, food banks to non-profit organizations, many places throughout the region have partnered with Feed More to serve the community.
The organization believes it’s essential to ensure that kids and teenagers are consuming the proper nutrients to help them grow, develop, and thrive. But the truth is that one in six children in Central Virginia is food insecure. For these children, they may not know where their next meal is coming from or how to get the filling, nutritious meals their bodies need. That’s why a central tenet of Feed More’s mission is helping children and teens in need. They have robust programming to help food-insecure children across the region, providing free meals and access to healthy food year-round.
In partnership with the McKesson Foundation, Feed More has created an iconic, retrofitted school bus, affectionately named Feed More Freddie. Feed More Freddie has been on the road since 2023, delivering fresh fruits, veggies, and easy-to-cook meals for kids and teens across the region. If you pass Freddie on the road, there’s no way you’ll miss him. He’s bright green and decorated with fruits, veggies, and other delectable drawings.
For children who don’t have access to food at home, the Weekend Backpacks and the Summer Food Service programs make all the difference. “Our backpack program distributes about 2,000 backpacks each week. We work with between 50 and 60 schools, most of them being elementary schools,” says McClung. “Each backpack has two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners.”
When school’s not in session, children can still access Feed More’s resources through the Summer Food Service Program. Children and teens up to 18 years old can receive free breakfast and lunch, all summer long. After school, kids can access healthy meals and snacks through the Kids Cafe, an after-school program provided at several local schools.
Through the School Market program, the entire family can access healthy foods. The School Market is a farmers market-style distribution that takes place at local schools, allowing families with children attending to “shop” for food for the whole family. Currently, this program has sites at a handful of schools in the counties of Dinwiddie, Greensville, Halifax, Henrico, and Mecklenburg, as well as in the cities of Hopewell and Petersburg.
The Expansion of Feed More
For nearly 20 years, Feed More was located in a 100-year-old tobacco factory on Rhoadmiller Street in Richmond. While this was an excellent facility for many years, the organization began to outgrow the space as demand increased. In fact, they’d been in a similar position before. Feed More renovated their facilities on Rhoadmiller Street three times before deciding in 2023 to start fresh at a new location, beginning in 2024.
“We simply outgrew our space. We weren’t able to bring in and distribute as much food as we needed to, and our kitchen wasn’t adequate for the number of people we were serving. It wasn’t conducive anymore for logistics and the number of volunteers that we work with,” says McClung.
On October 14, 2024, Feed More moved into their new facility at 8020 Villa Park Drive in Henrico County. At 124,000 square feet, this new space was built with even more growth in mind, providing Feed More with the ability to expand further in the future, ensuring its continued ability to serve the community for many years to come. In this new centralized location, it’s more accessible for volunteers, clients, and partners.
“We realized it was better to build something mission-built,” shared McClung. “We took a look at what we’re doing today, but also kept an eye toward the future, where growth and changes are going to happen. We built something really specific to how we do our business.”
In their previous location, Feed More was getting so tight on space that they had to direct donations elsewhere. In their new location, they have 25% more capacity for shelf-stable food storage and five times the freezer space. Additionally, they’ve expanded from two loading docks to ten. Now, Feed More can store more product than ever before, increase productivity, and reach even more neighbors in need through their distribution network.
As part of the new build, they also included a large, state-of-the-art Community Kitchen. “We’ve seen a growth in the number of people receiving Meals on Wheels over the last several years,” says McClung. “So, the kitchen almost doubling in size allowed us to meet that growth, with the opportunity to expand in the future.”
In addition to the improvements made to Feed More’s facility for food preparation, storage, and distribution, they’re also now able to expand their volunteer network and bring together volunteers, nonprofits, and government organizations in person and on-site. “In our new facility, we’ve attracted more people to come in and volunteer.
We’re able to hold meetings and gatherings with partners and be a real convener of the community,” says McClung.
Feed More this Holiday Season
When we think about the holidays, we often think about spending time with our loved ones, sharing meals, embracing traditions, exchanging gifts, and making memories. For some of our neighbors, this isn’t the case. They’re worried about putting food on the table, having childcare during school vacations, and whether they’ll be able to take time off work.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of groceries has increased by about 22% since 2022. Although the year-over-year increase is less pronounced, consumers continue to feel the effects of compounding inflation. This can hit folks harder around the holiday season as they want to make this time of year memorable for their families but may not have the resources to do so.
This year, Feed More will support those in need in numerous ways, and there are plenty of opportunities for the community to get involved. Meals on Wheels recipients can enjoy holiday meals, featuring turkey, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry relish. Weekend Backpack recipients can double their backpacks for holiday breaks to ensure they receive enough meals when schools are not in session. They will also be partnering with 2025 Richmond Christmas Mother Mary Jane Hogue and the Richmond Times-Dispatch Richmond Christmas Mother Fund to distribute food throughout the holiday season.
Feed More relies heavily on donations and volunteers, especially during the holiday season. “We rely on more than 200 volunteers per day at Feed More, so [the holiday season] is a great time to make plans to give back with family members, your company, or an organization that you’re a part of,” shares McClung.
While you’re grocery shopping this holiday season, consider purchasing additional non-perishables, such as canned soups and vegetables, pasta, sauces, or breakfast items, to donate to your neighbors in need. If you prefer to give back through monetary donations, Feed More will be asking for community support all season long, but especially on Giving Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
The holiday season is a magical time of the year, and Feed More ensures our neighbors can celebrate with full stomachs and full hearts.
If you’re interested in donating and/or volunteering at Feed More, visit their website for more information.
