Eat for a cause…to help feed our neighbors!
We are delighted to announce that every time you order Papa Johns Pizza online and enter promo code GROVE at checkout, Papa Johns will donate 20% of your sale to us here at Grove.
Every dollar donated from Papa Johns will help us support the vulnerable families in the Greater Williamsburg area, providing food, clothing and financial assistance to those in need.
Low-income families in the greater Williamsburg region suffering from food insecurity now have a more dignified way to ensure no one in their household goes hungry thanks to the opening of The Gathering Place at Grove Christian Outreach Center on Nov. 20, 2024.
The Gathering Place marks Williamsburg’s first free grocery market, which offers a dignified shopping experience, free of charge, to vulnerable families across the region.
“We are overjoyed to officially open The Gathering Place and invite families to experience a grocery market designed to meet their needs with dignity and care,” said Katie Patrick, Executive Director of Grove Christian Outreach Center, during a ribbon cutting at the market. “This is more than a food resource; it’s a place of hope, connection and community.”
It’s also a solution to the rising need for fresh, nutritious and accessible food in the community.
The Gathering Place operates as a grocery store, empowering families to select food and household items that best suit their needs and preferences. Unlike traditional food pantries, this model offers fresh produce, dairy, proteins and pantry staples in an environment that feels welcoming and familiar – like a grocery store.
Allowing families who have qualified to receive services from the Center to select items on their own also reduces food waste compared to traditional pantry models.
The approximately 2,000-square-foot Gathering Place space was designed to alleviate the stigma often associated with receiving food assistance, making it a welcoming resource for families navigating challenging times.
“For a long time, food pantries operated as back door ministries,” explained Patrick. “But when people need food assistance, they don’t want to go to the back door or have shame associated with their families. Food is love, and love doesn’t hide.”
The Gathering Place was made possible through the generosity of local donors, businesses and community partners who believe in Grove Christian Outreach Center’s mission to provide practical, compassionate assistance to neighbors in need.
“We would not be opening The Gathering Place without the support of the community, whether that’s from our volunteers who show up in many different ways, whether that’s from the Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce, or the elected officials who support and are so grateful for the work that we do for residents,” said Patrick. “The greater Williamsburg community has really stepped up in remarkable ways to make this dream a reality.”
Regional grocery retailer Food Lion played an important role in the opening of The Gathering Place. The Center was selected to participate in The Great Pantry Makeover, an annual Food Lion Feeds event, where local Food Lion associates spent 30 days volunteering to complete The Gathering Place buildout and stock the shelves with more than 3,000 pounds of shelf-stable food.
The Williamsburg Health Foundation was also a key supporter, helping to fund the installation of new, highly efficient refrigeration systems for storing fresh produce, dairy and other items.
“What an amazingly beautiful place,” said Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce CEO Terry Banez, noting how the Center provided over 1,000 food pantry visits to area families in October 2024 alone. “It’s really phenomenal what the Grove Christian Outreach Center has done, and we wish the team much success going forward.”
Grove Christian Outreach Center provides food, clothing and financial assistance to those in need. Over the last 20 years, programs have evolved and grown to also include services such as food delivery programs for household seniors, school supply drives for local families and holiday programs. With the community’s support, in 2023, a total of 31,901 people were served through various programs.
Grove Christian Outreach Center invites individuals, businesses, and organizations to join the mission by volunteering, donating or sponsoring it’s programs, including The Gathering Place.
Grove Christian Outreach Center’s Roaring Twenties Gala, held on November 2, brought the community together for an unforgettable evening filled with glamour, giving and goodwill.
Hosted at the Colonial Heritage Club, the highly anticipated fundraising event celebrated the Center’s 20th anniversary and raised over $74,000 to support its mission to provide food, clothing and financial assistance to those in need.
The Roaring Twenties-themed celebration invited attendees to step back in time to the Jazz Age, with vintage décor, flapper-inspired fashion and a live performance by the popular swing band, Good Shot Judy. Guests enjoyed an elegant dinner and joined in a paddle raise to contribute additional funds toward Grove Christian Outreach Center’s programs.
The Center, which started out primarily as a food pantry operating out of a mobile home facility, has evolved over the last 20 years to also include services such as food delivery programs for household seniors, school supply drives for local families and holiday programs.
Thanks to the community’s support, in 2023 alone a total of 31,901 people were served through the Center’s various programs.
The number of families served in 2024 already exceeds 2023 figures.
“We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming generosity displayed by our community at this event and throughout the year,” said Alexis Johnson, Committee Chairwoman for the Roaring Twenties Gala. “Every dollar we raised will have a meaningful impact on the lives served by the Center.”
The success of the Roaring Twenties Gala underscores the community’s enduring support and commitment to the Center’s mission. “Food is more than just nourishment for our neighbors,” said Katie Patrick, Executive Director of Grove Christian Outreach Center. “Food is love in its most essential form. Every dollar raised at this event, over the last two decades, and in the years to come, helps empower families, strengthen community and show love.”
