Emergency Food Network

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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 approximately 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.

Huge shout-out to the staff at Luna Labs, a Charlottesville and Blacksburg-based technology company, who donated 368 pou...
10/26/2026

Huge shout-out to the staff at Luna Labs, a Charlottesville and Blacksburg-based technology company, who donated 368 pounds of groceries in honor of Hunger Action Month.

https://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/press-room/hunger-action-month-2026

We're grateful to Luna Labs for making community involvement part of what it does.

If your company or team is thinking about a food drive, we'd love to hear from you. Check out the list of most requested 'extras' here: https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/donate

Thank you to CROP Hunger Walk, Charlottesville for once again raising awareness and action for hunger relief. We were pl...
10/24/2026

Thank you to CROP Hunger Walk, Charlottesville for once again raising awareness and action for hunger relief. We were pleased to participate and be a beneficiary of the 2026 walk.

The Virginia Hunger Study, released in September 2026, revealed what we all already know. More Virginians are struggling to buy groceries in the face of rising prices and decreasing federal assistance.

Statewide, 42% of Virginia households experienced food insecurity between May 2025 and May 2026.

42% - that's nearly half of Virginia families. And it's worse for families with children where 51% were food insecure.

https://vafoodbanks.org/hunger-in-virginia/

At EFN, we're serving 15% more people than last year.

Please be compassionate. Know that your neighbor, your coworker, or your child's caregiver could be struggling. Please let them know we're here for them.



https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/donate

QUESTION: Why does EFN need an extras shelf?ANSWER: Our main offerings are foods we purchase in bulk, individually packa...
10/15/2026

QUESTION: Why does EFN need an extras shelf?

ANSWER: Our main offerings are foods we purchase in bulk, individually packaged, so we always have nutritionally balanced options to fill a three-day supply of groceries. Food drives can supplement those purchases, especially canned fruit, vegetables, soup, and cereal.

The extras shelf is just as important. The items on our extras list go beyond our regular offerings, and people choose them based on dietary and family needs.

Our extras shelf also includes personal care and cleaning items like shampoo and dish detergent. SNAP doesnā€™t cover them, and when youā€™re working to get enough food on the table, they can be hard to fit in the budget.

You can find the full list of needed extras and ways to donate here: https://www.emergencyfoodnetwork.org/donate

Thanks to for highlighting the need. The 2026 Virginia Hunger Study, released in Sept. 2026, found that 42% of Virginia...
10/13/2026

Thanks to for highlighting the need.

The 2026 Virginia Hunger Study, released in Sept. 2026, found that 42% of Virginia households experienced food insecurity in the past year, and EFN is serving 15% more people than last year.

Our Board Chair, Miette Michie, told NBC29: "We are not surprised by these numbers, but it is disheartening to hear them."

Hunger isn't always visible. The person struggling could be your neighbor, a coworker, a server, a caregiver, or your child's teacher or bus driver.

EFN is funded by our community. Every household that calls receives three days of food, the same day, with no financial questions asked.

As Miette says, "People need food. We have food. That is our mission."

To give or volunteer: emergencyfoodnetwork.org



https://vafoodbanks.org/hunger-in-virginia/
https://www.29news.com/2026/10/06/emergency-food-network-requesting-aid/

Thank you to Olivet Presbyterian Church for donating 150 bags of food, more than 1,000 pounds!One of our volunteers note...
10/10/2026

Thank you to Olivet Presbyterian Church for donating 150 bags of food, more than 1,000 pounds!

One of our volunteers noted, "This donation alone will save EFN thousands of dollars." That matters now, as we are serving 15% more people than last year.

Thank you also to KIm Hammond, our Food Drives Chair, Deanna Fischer, our Pantry Manager, and members of the @ who provided hours of help to sort and shelve the donations.

This food will go out as three-day grocery orders to families in Charlottesville and Albemarle County as well as to support our community partners and the people they serve.

September is Hunger Action Month, and we have a challenge for you. Wear orange a few times this month. (If you cheer for...
09/10/2026

September is Hunger Action Month, and we have a challenge for you.

Wear orange a few times this month. (If you cheer for UVA or Virginia Tech, you're in good shape!). When someone compliments your outfit, tell them why you're wearing it.

It's Feeding America's Hunger Action Month, and you're bringing attention to food insecurity across the country.

Want to give them something to think about? More than 1 million Virginians, about 1 in 8, are now food insecure. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is averaging the highest number of monthly visits in its 45-year history. And here at EFN, distributions to families grew 14.6% from FY25 to FY26.

Join the national movement to inspire people to end hunger. šŸ§”

Tag us in your orange photos and we'll share them to spread the word.

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

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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