03/13/2025
Hunger Heroes
A Commitment to Community
When food insecurity rises, so does our commitment to fighting hunger. See how our efforts turned into thousands of meals for families in need.
Leading the effort to eliminate hunger in the Hampton Roads area, we banded together for another Hunger Heroes fundraiser with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. The Foodbank’s Hunger Heroes Food and Fundraising competition unites businesses across the region in the fight against food insecurity, stirring up a friendly competition between local companies to see who can raise the most money in support of families in need.
“I’ve been in charge of our summer Foodbank fundraiser since 2018 when one of our largest grocery stores in the area closed down and left the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore in desperate need of donations,” said AR Specialist Michelle Smiley, “they put a plea out to the community and IES stepped up with a food drive that summer.”
With food scarcity being especially prominent amongst underprivileged families in the summer months, the food drive aims to sustain kids and their families who’re no longer benefitting from the guaranteed and reduced meals that they would receive daily during the school year.
“It feels good to support the community in need,” said Ray Thompson in an email. According to the Southeastern Virginia Foodbank, 1 in 13 people in the region are projected to be food insecure, equating to over 30,000 kids. With that in mind, we brought in everything from baby food to tuna, while simultaneously raising funds via an online portal for those who couldn’t bring in physical goods. Every $1 donated, provided 2 meals to someone in need. This year, we raised a whopping $9K, surpassing our original goal of $5K–a huge win for the community! “Every penny will make an impact” said Michelle.
IES Virginia has partnered with the Justice League, the food-insecurity fighting companies that participate in the annual Hunger Heroes campaign, for five consecutive years and has cumulatively raised $44,201. With this year’s food drive resulting in the donation of approximately 18,128 meals, or commitment to supporting our neighbors in need remains steadfast!
