In partnership with the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, YMCAs in Gloucester and Mathews are helping to combat food shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic by having food drives in both counties from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday.

The YMCA is asking members and the community to donate non-perishable food items such as canned tuna, chicken and ham; canned vegetables and fruits; peanut butter and jelly; macaroni and cheese, hearty meaty soups; 100 percent juice; pasta meals; family-size boxed rice; instant potatoes; cereal, and nutritional bars.

Those wishing to donate items will need to drive up to the front of the YMCA, where volunteers will be stationed, according to a news release. Drivers will not need to roll down their windows. They simply will be asked to pop their trunks open, and a YMCA staff member will take the non-perishable items from the trunk with no human-to-human contact. Staff collecting non-perishable items will be provided PPE (personal protective equipment) such as masks and g...