To my fellow Newport News residents:

Last week I shared that donations to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank are down 18% at the same time they are serving a record number of people dealing with food insecurity (they saw a 62% increase last fiscal year). I asked you to join me to provide nourishment and hope to our neighbors in need and I am inspired, moved and humbled by the way you responded.

During our Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day of Service  Food Drive yesterday, we collected the equivalent of over 60,000 meals to Peninsula families. This is more than double the amount we have collected any other year.

Everything is different right now, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the way Newport News residents respond to those in need. Even before our MLK Day of Service event, the collection boxes throughout the city were full of your food donations. Yesterday, lines of cars came to the Foodbank to drop off food. Vans and trucks pulled up with boxes of food. Families came out together with bags of food and checks. Young people shared bags of change that had been pulled from piggy banks. Those who couldn’t join us gave generously via Facebook and online.

During the event, I had the chance to speak with many of you about the Day of Service and what it meant to you. I heard stories from people who had received a helping hand in the past and wanted to repay the kindness, I talked to young people about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy of service to others, and I spoke with people who said they were lonely and just wanted to help. We are all struggling because of the pandemic, but we are united in our desire for a better, brighter tomorrow.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” I can tell you that Newport News residents stand together in the good times and bad. Thank you for helping stock the Foodbank’s shelves and showing those in need in our community that they are not alone.

Please stay safe – wear a mask, continue to social distance, avoid large gatherings and wash your hands. Let’s continue to uplift one another in word and service.

Mayor McKinley L. Price, DDS

Yesterday, Newport News logged the highest number of new positive cases to date with 213. Please remain vigilant. Wear a mask, avoid large gatherings, wash your hands, follow social distancing guidelines and stay home or seek medical treatment if you are sick.

Residents have been asking when and where they can be vaccinated. Unfortunately, we don’t have that information at this time. While we await guidance from the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Peninsula Health District, we ask you to please remain patient. As soon as we have information, we will share it in the newsletter, on our website and via social media.  

The six localities on the Peninsula – Newport News, Williamsburg, James City County, York County, Hampton and Poquoson – are working together as regional partners to develop a plan for vaccinating residents. The plans have been submitted to the VDH for review. Once approved, we will be able to vaccinate our citizens in partnership with the VDH and health systems according to the CDC’s phased plan. 

All localities are committed to providing information as soon as it is available. If you have questions regarding the vaccination process, call the VDH Peninsula Health District at 757-594-7069 or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov.