NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — While it wasn’t a full-scale production like the food giveaway in Hampton Wednesday morning, the need for food is still a constant in the east end of Newport News.

“The need is tremendous, and it’s growing,” said Bob Latvis, president and CEO of the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank at the Sentara Community Care Clinic, inside the community food pantry run by the Foodbank in partnership with Sentara Health. “And our people are suffering right now.”

Latvis said dealing with the government shutdown and the fallout of the Big Beautiful Bill isn’t looking very pretty.

“We purchased more food, but the need continues to rise,” Latvis said. “And where we see that with the potential of escalating tremendously is impacts to the SNAP, or food stamps, program, along with the Medicaid, other restrictions that are part of the one big bill that we think as folks lose or have reduced SNAP benefits, the food insecurity rate will rise and will drive people to the Foodbank for our services.”

After making an appointment, folks can pair with a shopping advisor to tailor fit a diet for themselves and their families, but if you’re just coming in off the street, they don’t let you leave empty-handed.

“We do have emergency food services, and we will provide that on demand,” Latvis said.

While they’re managing now, he said things can’t go on the way they’re going.

“We have a great buying power based on our scale, but we can’t buy our way out of this situation,” Latvis said. “It’s not sustainable. “