Community Food Locker Provides Groceries for Patients and Clients in Need

The refrigerated locker outside Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center will serve food insecure patients and House of Mercy clients.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A new community food locker has been set up outside Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center to help address food insecurity. The locker, made possible through a collaboration between Sentara, Williamsburg House of Mercy, and the Williamsburg Health Foundation, will provide a space for patients facing food insecurity and House of Mercy clients to pick up free groceries. The order-based system allows clients to access food even when the nonprofit's business hours are not convenient.

Why it matters

Food insecurity is a persistent issue in many communities, and this new food locker aims to make it easier for those in need to access nutritious food, especially for patients leaving the hospital who may not have food waiting for them at home. The partnership between the hospital, nonprofit, and health foundation demonstrates a collaborative approach to addressing this community challenge.

The details

The refrigerated and weather-proofed food locker was purchased with a $65,000 grant from the Williamsburg Health Foundation and is located outside the hospital's emergency department. It will serve multiple purposes, including making groceries available for existing House of Mercy clients and for patients leaving the hospital. Clients can order produce, dairy, and proteins, and the locker provides an additional pickup option outside of the nonprofit's business hours. Organizers are also planning to start a 'Food Rescue' program, allowing restaurants to deliver and drop off food donations to the locker.

  • The food locker opened to emergency room discharge patients on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
  • Access for Williamsburg House of Mercy clients will begin on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center

A hospital that is collaborating on the community food locker project.

Williamsburg House of Mercy

A nonprofit organization that helps community members in need of food, clothing, and other assistance, and is partnering on the food locker.

Williamsburg Health Foundation

A foundation that provided a $65,000 grant to purchase the food locker.

Liz Buckley

The executive director of Williamsburg House of Mercy, who came up with the idea for the food locker.

Loren Smith

The hospital operations vice president for Sentara Williamsburg, who said the partnership was meaningful for the hospital.

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What they’re saying

“I realized that for many of our neighbors, there is no such thing as a luxury of convenience.”

— Liz Buckley, Executive Director, Williamsburg House of Mercy (dailypress.com)

“Working with the Williamsburg House of Mercy for this innovative solution was very meaningful for us as well.”

— Loren Smith, Hospital Operations Vice President, Sentara Williamsburg (dailypress.com)

What’s next

Organizers are planning to start a 'Food Rescue' program, allowing restaurants to deliver and drop off food donations to the locker. House of Mercy staff and volunteers will then distribute the donated food through the nonprofit's community kitchen.

The takeaway

This community food locker demonstrates a collaborative approach to addressing food insecurity, with the hospital, nonprofit, and health foundation working together to make nutritious food more accessible for patients and clients in need. The innovative solution provides an additional pickup option and flexibility for those facing food insecurity in the Williamsburg area.