Meals on Wheels
Williamsburg Area Meals On Wheels was started in 1974 to serve the growing needs of our community. We are the daily hot, nutritious meal delivery program targeting vulnerable adults (18+) in the Williamsburg area.
FISH
FISH, Inc.of Williamsburg, Virginia, is an all-volunteer not-for-profit
agency providing help to residents of the greater Williamsburg area.
FISH depends entirely upon a caring community for food, clothing,
volunteersand financial donations, in order to serve our neighbors in
need.While FISH was founded by local religious organizations, FISH does
not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender or national
origin.
During 2013, FISH provided food equivalent to 158,220 meals;10,287
outfits of clothing; and housewares to 568 homes. Overall, our
volunteers served 5,051 requests for assistance, an increase of 6% over
requests in 2012 (when requests were 14% higher than in 2011). For the
first six months of 2014, requests have continued to climb.
Fresh Food Fund
Eating fresh, local food has gotten easier for Williamsburg families. The Williamsburg Farmers Market now participates in the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formally known as the Food Stamp Program, which offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low income individuals and families.
Households enrolled in the SNAP program can now use EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards at the Token Tent to purchase fresh food items at the market. Cardholders determine the amount of purchase and receive wooden tokens, worth $1 each. With the tokens (which never expire), they can purchase fresh-picked produce, local honey, homemade breads, preserves and other food items, including those produced using organic farming methods.
To help fill the gap, and get more Virginia grown and produced food into the hands of our low-income neighbors, the Williamsburg Farmers Market created the Fresh Food Fund, a token-matching program for SNAP participants. The Fresh Food Fund provides SNAP shoppers with a dollar-for-dollar match (up to an additional $10 per week) to spend with market vendors. By making their benefit dollars go farther, the Fresh Food Fund encourages SNAP beneficiaries to shop at farmers markets, so they can enjoy the best local food and support local farmers.
The Fresh Food Fund is sustained through generous contributions from local businesses and Williamsburg Farmers Market customers. The EBT terminal was provided by Virginia Department of Social Services at no cost to the market.
Southern Foodways Alliance
The Southern Foodways Alliance documents, studies, and celebrates the diverse food cultures of the changing American South. We set a common table where black and white, rich and poor — all who gather — may consider our history and our future in a spirit of reconciliation.
A member-supported non-profit, based at the University of Mississippi’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture, we stage symposiums, produce documentary films, collect oral histories, sponsor scholarship, mentor students, and publish great writing. Donations from generous individuals, foundations, and companies fund our good work.