Emergency Food Network

Emergency Food Network We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides a 3-day food supply to individuals and families exclusively in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area.

The mission of the Emergency Food Network is to provide food for three days of balanced meals, on the same day requested, to individuals and families in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. We receive no government funding; our operation depends exclusively on the generous support of individuals, schools, businesses, area churches, and civic groups. Our operating expenses are minimal, so approxim

ately 93 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to program services. A well-organized group of dedicated and caring volunteers acquires the food, stocks the shelves, takes orders by phone, fills orders and delivers them to distribution sites. An average commitment of three hours per month is all that is needed from a volunteer to keep the Emergency Food Bank running-smoothly. A twenty-one member volunteer board of directors oversees the entire operation.

EFN has served Charlottesville and Albemarle County neighbors since 1973, and every bag of groceries that reaches a fami...
09/08/2026

EFN has served Charlottesville and Albemarle County neighbors since 1973, and every bag of groceries that reaches a family gets there because people gave a few hours of their time.

Saturday mornings and Wednesday and Friday afternoons are where we're stretched thinnest right now.

If you are interested in volunteering in any way, let us know. We'll help you find the perfect role.

Sign up at https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/volunteer.

What is the "forgotten population?"That's how one expert describes older adults when it comes to food insecurity. A rece...
09/04/2026

What is the "forgotten population?"

That's how one expert describes older adults when it comes to food insecurity. A recent Iowa Public Radio story looks at why seniors are so often overlooked. Rising food costs hit them especially hard when they are also managing fixed incomes, health problems, and recent changes to federal food assistance.

According to Feeding America, an estimated 7.7 million Americans age 60 and older experienced food insecurity in 2024, nearly one in 10.

Here in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, seniors make up about 15% of EFN's clients, our largest group after children. The story is set in Iowa, but the pressures are the same here, and every week EFN helps make sure seniors have enough food on the table.

Think about the seniors you know. Reach out to let them know food is available if they need it. https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/in-need

Sources:
https://www.iowapublicradio.org/2026-08-24/older-americans-high-food-prices
https://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/press-room/Map-the-Meal-Gap-202

You may start noticing 'orange' this September. It's the color of the national movement to end hunger.Every year, Feedin...
08/25/2026

You may start noticing 'orange' this September. It's the color of the national movement to end hunger.

Every year, Feeding America and food banks across the country use September to raise awareness and to mobilize communities to act.

This past year, EFN served over 43,000 people through distribution and partnerships; 45% were children and 14% were seniors. That represents over 50,000 pounds of food.

As we prepare for Hunger Action month, think about how you can make an impact:
- Check in on a neighbor who might need some extra support or resources
- Organize a food drive at work, school, or place of worship
- Volunteer a few hours of your time
- Make a donation.

Have another idea? Send it to [email protected] to help us brainstorm more hunger awareness activities!

https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/volunteer
https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/donate

isn't just good for the people it helps. Studies link it to lower stress, stronger community ties, and a real sense of...
08/21/2026

isn't just good for the people it helps.

Studies link it to lower stress, stronger community ties, and a real sense of purpose. At EFN, that impact goes even further: over 90% of our proceeds go directly to food purchases, which means our volunteers are the engine behind almost everything we do.

Give a few hours. Feel the difference. Join a wonderful team of volunteers!
https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/volunteer

The Emergency Food Network Needs Your Help - Volunteers Needed EFN is urgently looking for Saturday morning phone volun...
08/19/2026

The Emergency Food Network Needs Your Help - Volunteers Needed

EFN is urgently looking for Saturday morning phone volunteers to take food orders for our neighbors in need. This is a recurring monthly commitment of just 3 hours, and we are happy to train you!

If Saturdays don’t work for you, we also have other volunteer opportunities available during the week either during the day or after work hours. Some of these roles include baggers, shelvers, drivers, meat pickup drivers, delivery unloaders, and distribution volunteers. All roles are a recurring monthly commitment of 1–3 hours.

To learn more or sign up, visit emergencyfoodnetwork.org/volunteer or email us at [email protected].

Every hour you give makes a real difference in our community. Thank you!

Shout out to 100+ Women Who Care of Charlottesville and everyone who recently donated nearly 2 dozen bags of groceries!M...
08/08/2026

Shout out to 100+ Women Who Care of Charlottesville and everyone who recently donated nearly 2 dozen bags of groceries!

Much of this donation is headed to our Extras Shelf.

Beyond our standard pantry staples like canned fruits and vegetables, soup, pasta, peanut butter, and canned meat, food drives often bring items we don't typically stock, like baking goods, condiments, and snacks. Clients can choose several extras in addition to their staples, so they leave with groceries that fit their needs.

100+ Women Who Care brings together local women who each commit to giving directly to nonprofits in their community, pooling their contributions at regular meetings to make an immediate, meaningful impact where it's needed most. It's built on collective generosity, turning individual gifts into significant support for local organizations. https://www.wwc-cho.org/

Thanks 100+ Women Who Care for all you do!

#100+WomenWhoCare

Thank you 29News WVIR for shining a spotlight on hunger in our community.We had the opportunity to sit down with NBC29's...
08/05/2026

Thank you 29News WVIR for shining a spotlight on hunger in our community.

We had the opportunity to sit down with NBC29's Community Connections team to talk about food insecurity in Central Virginia. As federal support declines and grocery and gas prices climb, the need for food assistance keeps growing.

We're grateful to the news team and to the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation for helping us reach people who may not know help is available or are looking for ways to give back.

Consider volunteering with us or providing a donation. We are a community effort, working together to support those who need a hand. https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/donate


https://www.29news.com/video/2026/08/03/community-conversation-lianne-landers-with-emergency-food-network-08-03-26/

Did you know?The Emergency Food Network provides same-day emergency food assistance to any individual or family in Charl...
08/03/2026

Did you know?

The Emergency Food Network provides same-day emergency food assistance to any individual or family in Charlottesville or Albemarle County — no referral needed.

Call us between 9am–noon Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, and pick up a three-day supply of groceries that same afternoon.

Last year, that meant supporting 43,034 neighbors (approx. 45% of them children) thanks to volunteers who show up week after week.

Know someone who could use a hand? Share this post: you might be exactly the connection they need.

@ #

Food insecurity isn't always what people picture. A March 2026 Urban Institute survey found nearly 1 in 4 adults now rep...
08/03/2026

Food insecurity isn't always what people picture. A March 2026 Urban Institute survey found nearly 1 in 4 adults now report trouble affording enough food and it's rising fastest among moderate-income households, not just the lowest earners.

According to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks in their Sept. 2025 report, 1 in 8 Virginia residents (1 in 7 children) face food insecurity. And regional food banks like Blue Ridge Area Food Bank have seen some of their highest demand on record over the past year (Charlottesville Tomorrow, June 2026), as federal nutrition benefit cuts push more people toward organizations like ours.

That's why same-day, no-barrier food assistance matters. No one needs paperwork or a referral to get help from us. Just a phone call.

Want to be part of the response? Donate or volunteer: https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/donate

A huge thanks to our friends and partners at the !Thanks to their support, we've added a new industrial fridge at our d...
08/02/2026

A huge thanks to our friends and partners at the !

Thanks to their support, we've added a new industrial fridge at our distribution site, expanding our cold storage capacity for perishables.

BRAFB is more than a wholesale source for our staples and perishables. They are true allies in this fight against hunger.

This new fridge means less spoilage, more variety, and more fresh, nutritious food on hand.

Extra special shoutout to the volunteers who maneuvered and manipulated the fridge into position!

And thank you, BRAFB, for investing in our ability to serve our community.

Address

900 Harris Street
Charlottesville, VA
22903

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3:30pm
Friday 9am - 3:30pm

Telephone

(434) 979-9180

Website

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