HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Foodbanks in Hampton Roads report increased need amid the government shutdown, and WAVY-TV 10 is on your side with an event that will help put food on the tables of families facing food insecurity.

To say the Foodbank is struggling is an understatement.

“We’ve seen about a 10% increase every week over the last two weeks in the amount of people coming to us for help,” said Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore CEO Chris Tan.

They were already stretched thin. Traditionally, people think about donating to Foodbanks just before the new year.

“The summer is often a lean time and then, as school starts, we get a little bit more and of course, the holiday season, it ramps up a lot,” Tan said. “We haven’t hit that holiday season yet.”

Just this week in Hampton, cars were lined up as early as 4:30 a.m. for a food distribution event beginning at 10 a.m.

And just last Friday, the Foodbank had to close their gates after a larger-than-expected turnout at their mobile distribution in Norfolk.

“And so, the challenge of also trying to meet those who may have never come to our lines before, or maybe experiencing food insecurity for the first time in their life, is certainly one that has taken its toll on this community,” Tan said.

He likens it to a natural disaster, with people flooding the stores to stock up on milk and bread. But this storm is targeting more people than your average hurricane — to the tune of 150,000 people.

“We are one of the top five communities in the country affected by government shutdown,” Tan said.

That’s why WAVY-TV 10 is teaming up with them for our Feeding Hampton Roads event next Thursday at Pembroke Square parking lot between Kohl’s and Walgreens. Folks can bring non-perishable items and monetary donations.

“It takes a community to fix it,” Tan said. “So, to have a media outlet in our area come to us and say we want to help is just such a gift to us as foodbankers.”

Want to help?

WAVY News 10 will be holding a special food collection event benefiting the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 at the Pembroke Square parking lot between Kohl’s and Walgreens in Virginia Beach. Non-perishable food items will be collected.

Monetary donations will also be accepted via a secure link available at WAVY.com, with the money going directly to the Foodbank to help buy fresh produce, healthy items and other essentials that are often in short supply. Go here to see a shopping list of the Foodbank’s most needed items.