VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — For more than 38 years, Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (JCOC) has served meals and provided housing services to anyone experiencing homelessness and hunger.
In acknowledgment of the holidays, JCOC and dozens of volunteers collaborated to give Christmas food baskets and hot meals to hundreds of struggling families and individuals in the Virginia Beach area.
Around 120 guests came to Mount Olive Baptist Church in Virginia Beach for an early dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Keeping with a 20+ year Christmas Eve tradition, Virginia Senator Bill DeSteph’s family and friends also brought turkeys, sides and homemade pumpkin pie. On Christmas Day, the Jefferies family brought and served a fried chicken dinner for more than 100 guests.
JCOC’s Hope for the Holidays also raised enough funds and nonperishable food for 241 households, which represents 850 children and adults in those homes to be able to pick up Christmas food baskets last Thursday and Friday.
Initially partnering with faith-based organizations in Virginia Beach, JCOC currently works with more than 100 volunteer groups, churches, synagogues, civic groups and individuals to serve over 100,000 free meals worth of food throughout the year.
JCOC’s Hunger Relief Programs temporarily operate out of First Lynnhaven Baptist Church and Mount Olive Baptist Church as it constructs a three-story building on its Virginia Beach Boulevard campus in the historic Seatack neighborhood. The project includes 38 affordable housing units, dining hall, commercial kitchen and administrative offices.
For more information on JCOC, click here.