The Lem Bowden Memorial Food Closet provides emergency food assistance to people throughout Virginia Beach. Our mission is to assist people who are hungry, frequently skip meals or have lower quality diets because they cannot always afford the food they need. We provide a one-week supply of nutritious, well-balanced foods including fruits, vegetables and various proteins. The Food Closet uses funds and in-kind donations from members and friends of the parish to offer emergency food assistance to families and individuals.

Who was Lem Bowden?

Dr. Lem Bowden was a member of Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church and a founder and first fund-raiser for the program more than two decades ago. He died in 1997 and the Food Closet was memorialized by the Vestry in 1998.

OUR CLIENTS

How many people receive assistance?

In 2005 we assisted 4,123 individuals. In 2004, 3,774 people were fed, in 2003, 3,262 people and in 2002, 2,008 people were fed.

Who received assistance from the food closet?

Anyone who shows up with a valid I.D. can receive emergency food aid for themselves and their household.

How often can a person receive assistance?

People can receive food twice in three months.

How do clients find out about us?

Most learn about the Food Closet from word of mouth. About every six weeks, VA Beach Department of Social Services has us at the top of their “Referral List”

Has anyone ever been turned away?

While we sometimes run low on food and funds, no one has ever been turned away without food.

OUR VOLUNTEERS

How many people are involved in the Food Closet?

25 dedicated volunteers give their time each week to inventory, shop, and stock and, most importantly, come each day to welcome the hungry and provide food and fellowship. Parishioners play a vital role in this important outreach ministry. Our children bring non-perishable foods for their Sunday offering. Adults contribute both food and financial donations.

OUR FUNDING

How is the Food Closet funded?

Hundreds of people in the parish give regularly to the Food Closet. The Women of Eastern Shore Chapel, the Peanut Group generously donate semi-annually. The Parish Day School holds food drives and fundraisers. In 2005, we received $38,922.82 in cash donations.

Does the Food Closet receive funds from the Parish Outreach Budget?

No, Food Closet expenses are accounted for separately from the $27,000 annual Outreach budget.

Why doesn't the Outreach Budget Fund the Food Closet

We have managed to hold a delicate balance of income and expenditures for more than two decades. We believe that many people give directly to the Food Closet because they see the immediate impact of their dollars in terms of emergency food aid.

Who oversees the Food Closet Funds?

Every dollar received by the Food Closet is deposited into the parish accounts and is maintained and audits as part of the Church Accounts by the Parish Finance Director, Mary Camp.

Where does the food come from?

We work closely with the Food Lion, on Great Neck Road, we purchase between $800 and $1,000 worth of groceries each week. Parish volunteers transport food to the church. We also participate in Food Lion’s “Shop & Share” program. Each time a Shop & Share member shops at Food Lion and uses their MVP card, a portion of their total grocery purchase is donated to the Food Closet. MVP cards must be linked to the ESC Food Closet. Visit www.foodlion.com to sign up.

Do you work with the Food Bank?

No, we have not found the Food Bank to be cost effective or dependable for our needs.

OUR SCHEDULE

When is food distributed?

The Food Closet operates from 2:00 to 4:00 pm Monday to Thursday and Wednesday Evening from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

Why the odd hours?

Mornings are inconvenient because of the high school traffic in the hallway. Daily A.A. meetings in the Parish Hall preclude opening before 2:00 pm.