Winter Hunger in Chesterfield: Why Food Assistance Matters Now More Than Ever

When temperatures drop across Chesterfield, the impact reaches far beyond icy roads and rising thermostats. For our neighbors living with food insecurity, winter brings a painful set of choices that no family should have to face. Heat or groceries. Medicine or meals. A warm home or a full table.

At the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center, we see these realities up close every day. And right now, the need in our community is greater than it has been in years.

The Hidden Crisis in Our Own Backyard

Food insecurity is not always visible. In Chesterfield, one in nine residents and one in eight children live in households that struggle to consistently access enough nutritious food. These are our neighbors, our coworkers' families, the kids sitting next to ours in classrooms across the county.

Winter intensifies that struggle in ways that are easy to overlook. Heating costs climb, straining household budgets already stretched thin. School breaks interrupt the free and reduced-price meals that many children depend on. For families already living on the edge, a single unexpected utility bill can tip the balance from getting by to going hungry.

Across Virginia, approximately 11.1 percent of residents experience food insecurity, and 14 percent of children under 18 live in households where access to safe, nutritious food is uncertain, according to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report. These are not just numbers, they represent real people in our community.

Why Winter Hits Hardest

When families face rising energy costs, food is often the first expense they reduce. Research consistently shows that households under financial pressure cut food spending before other bills because, unlike rent or utilities, there is no immediate consequence for skipping a meal.

This creates a ripple effect. 

Families shift toward cheaper foods that lack nutritional value. Parents skip meals so their kids can eat. Seniors on fixed incomes quietly go without rather than ask for help. Meanwhile, demand at food pantries rises sharply during winter, just as donated supplies tend to thin out after the holiday season. The generous outpouring of support around Thanksgiving and Christmas often fades by January, even though the need does not.

How CFBOC Is Making a Difference Together

Since 2010, the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center has served as a lifeline for families in need, and our approach goes beyond simply handing out food. Our mission is to fight hunger and empower lives by addressing the root causes of food insecurity across Chesterfield.

That mission drives everything we do from our weekly food distributions to our partnerships with local businesses, schools, and community organizations. We distribute millions of pounds of food annually, and every pound represents a moment of relief for someone who was unsure where their next meal would come from.

"Winter is a critical time for the families we serve," said Kim Hill, Executive Director, Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center. "The need doesn't slow down when the holidays end, it actually grows. That's why we're asking our community to stay engaged and keep showing up for our neighbors."

What You Can Do Right Now

Winter hunger is not a problem we have to accept. It is a challenge we can meet together.

Donate. Financial contributions allow CFBOC to purchase nutritious food in bulk, stretching every dollar even further. Learn More: Here

Organize a Food Drive. Whether at your workplace, school, or place of worship, a food drive is one of the most direct ways to put food on a neighbor's table. Learn More: Here

Volunteer. Our operations depend on dedicated volunteers who sort, pack, and distribute food to families across the county. Your time makes a tangible difference. Learn More: Here

Spread the Word. Help connect families who may be struggling with the resources available to them. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is let someone know that help is here.

If you or someone you know needs food assistance, visit cfboc.org/getfood for information about our distributions and services. There is no shame in asking for help, that is exactly what we are here for.

The winter months test our community, but they also reveal what we are made of. Together, we can ensure that every family in Chesterfield has the food they need to not just survive the season, but to thrive through it and beyond.

Join us. Because when we fight hunger together, everyone wins.

Learn more at cfboc.org.