In need of food, financial assistance, healthcare or housing? Here's a list of resources for Petersburg.

Joyce Chu, The Progress-Index
Updated ·8 min read
Items on the shelves at the CARES food pantry located at 118 E. Washington Street in Petersburg.
Items on the shelves at the CARES food pantry located at 118 E. Washington Street in Petersburg.

PETERSBURG—We know that in hard times finding resources can be difficult, so we put together a comprehensive list of resources/ organizations in Petersburg that offer assistance in food, bills, housing, healthcare, mental health addiction treatment, job assistance, and more--most of which are free.

Food

  1. CARES, Inc.  

    • 118 E. Washington  St., Petersburg, VA  23803, (804) 861-0865

    • Tues. - Thurs. from  11:00 a.m. - 2:00  p.m.

    • Food: Non-perishable &  perishable foods Meat, fresh fruits &  vegetables Prepared foods

    • May come once a week. Must bring a photo ID &  verification of those in household. Clothing closet, small  kitchen appliances, furniture, &  personal hygiene items available

  2. Downtown  Churches United/The HOPE  Center

    • 827 Commerce St.,  Petersburg, VA  23803

    • Hot lunches: Mon.- Fri. at 12 p.m.,  2nd & 3rd Sun. of  month at 12 p.m.

    • Food Pantry: Tues. & Thurs. 10  a.m. - 1 p.m.

  3. First Baptist Church

    • 235 W. Washington St., Petersburg VA ,  (804) 733-7484

    • Packaged lunches: Monday- Thurs at 9:30-11 am

    • Dinners: Monday at 5 p.m.

  4. Faith and Hope  Temple - COGIC

    • 1800 E.  Washington St.,  Petersburg, VA  23803, (804) 861-3898

    • Sat. 10 a.m. - 12  p.m. (2nd, 3rd &  4th Sat. of the  month. Must call first

  5. Good Shepherd  Baptist Church  Food Distribution

    • 2223 S. Crater Rd.,  Petersburg, VA  23805 (804) 732-5969

    • Second Wed. of  each month at  12pm to 2pm

    • Non-perishable &  perishable goods, bring picture ID

  6. Good Shepherd  Baptist Church  Food Distribution

    • 2223 S. Crater Rd.,  Petersburg, VA  23805, (804) 732-5969

    • Second Wed. of  each month at 12pm to 2pm

    • Serving non-perishable &  perishable goods, bring picture ID

  7. Pathways

    • 1200 W.  Washington St.,  Petersburg, VA  23803, (804) 862-1104

    • Tues. - Thurs.  10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

    • Fresh produce items

  8. Petersburg Health  Dept. 

    • 301 Halifax St.  Petersburg, VA  23803, (804) 347-2782

    • Tues.  1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    • Serving food boxes

    • Call (804) 347-2782 for an appointment. Also distributes COVID-19 test kits & care kits

  9. Petersburg Seventh-Day  Adventist Church  (SDA)

    • 300 Poplar Dr.,  Petersburg, VA  23805, (804) 732-9538

    • Food pantry #  (804) 835-9861, Tues.  10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

    • Prepackaged boxes &  bags, bring photo ID

Utility/ rent/ financial assistance

  1. Downtown  Churches United/The HOPE  Center

    • What: Utility assistance and client services

    • Where: 827 Commerce St.,  Petersburg, VA  23803, (804) 861-3470

    • When: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00  p.m. on Tues. & Thurs.

  2. Petersburg Seventh-Day  Adventist Church  (SDA)

    • Offers utility and rent assistance services

    • 300 Poplar Dr.,  Petersburg, VA  23805, (804) 732-9538

  3. Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People, Inc. (CAPUP)

    • Offers rent and utility assistance to residents in Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Petersburg or Prince George.

    • Where: 432 Pecan Street, Petersburg, VA 23803

    • When: Office hours are Tuesday- Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Clients will be required to show proper proof of ID and any requested documentation to receive financial assistance services.

Medical bills assistance

The Affordable Care Act requires nonprofit hospitals to give financial assistance programs in order to keep their tax-exempt status. These programs reduce or eliminate medical bills for low-to-middle income patients.

Dollar For is a nationally renowned nonprofit dedicated to helping to see if patients qualify for medical assistance and helping them navigate the application process for free.

Housing/ evictions

  • For women facing domestic violence, contact the James House located at 6610 Commons Dr., Prince George, VA 23875.

    • Business Office: 804-458-2704

    • 24/7 Hotline: 804-458-2840

  • If you are homeless or will lose housing in the next two weeks, and live in the Crater area, call St. Joseph's Villa's hotline : 804-722-1181, ext. 101

  • Additional support for homelessness, contact the Commonwealth Catholic Charities at (804) 467-7181 (not for use for immediate housing)

  • For veterans and their families contact Virginia Supportive Housing: (804) 788-6825

  • For legal help in an eviction with private-owned property, contact the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society

    • Petersburg Office Intake Phone: 804-862-1100 (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday)

    • Fill out an online intake form: Click here

  • For legal help in an eviction with public housing/ government-owned property, contact the Legal Aid Justice Center

    • Petersburg Intake Phone: 804-862-2205

  • Though initially the CARES shelter announced that they would be open by the end of last year, the women's shelter is not yet ready for reopening as they are still remodeling. No date of the reopening has been made.

Healthcare

Pathways

Pathways offers a free healthcare services to the Tri-Cities and the surrounding area by appointment for the following services. Contact Ron Thompson, 804-862-1104 ext. 301 for more details.

  • Cardiology

  • Rheumatology

  • APPNA Chronic Care

  • APPNA Mental Health

  • Women's Health / GYN

  • Mammograms and Mammogram Classes

  • Blood Pressure Screenings

  • General Health Screenings

  • Seasonal Flu Shots

Location: 1200 W Washington St, Petersburg, VA 23803

Central Virginia Health Services

Central Virginia Health Services, a nonprofit healthcare provider, operates multiple clinics around Petersburg. They offer primary care, medical and prenatal care, dental, and behavioral health services, as well as a pharmacy. The have a licensed clinical social worker at each site.

They accept Medicaid and Medicare. For those who are uninsured, a patient will pay a sliding scale from $5-30 based on their income. Proof of income such as pay stubs, social security or disability award letter, is required. You can go to the office to fill out a form.

Here are the following locations:

  1. Downtown Petersburg Health Center

    • 25 S. Union St. Petersburg, VA 23803, 804-957-9601

    • Hours of operation: Monday: 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Tuesday- Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed daily for lunch from 12-1 p.m. Closes at 12:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.

  2. Crimson Clinic

    1. Petersburg High School, 3101 Johnson Rd., Petersburg, VA 23805, 804-972-0068

    2. Hours of operation: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

  3. Appomattox Area Health and Wellness Center

    • 321C Poplar Drive, Petersburg, VA 23805-9306, 804-733-5591

    • Hours of operation:

      1. Health care center: Mon.-Wed., Friday: 8 a.m.- 5p.m. Thursday: 8 a.m.- 6:30 p.m.

      2. Dental: Mon-Fri, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

      3. Pharmacy: Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closes for lunch daily from 12:30 to 1:00 pm. except on Thursday when it closes from 2:30 to 3:00 pm.

      4. This location will close at 12:30 pm on the first Wednesday of each month.

Sentara Mobile Clinic

Sentara mobile clinic also offers free or reduced healthcare for uninsured of low-income individuals. Their services include sick visits, preventive health screenings, routine labs/ testing, prescribing medication, and vaccinations.

Every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., it will be outside the Hope Center/ Downtown Churches United at 827 Commerce St. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., it will be in the library parking lot.

Walk-ins are welcome or appointments can be made by calling (804) 613-3940 or (703) 523-0998.

Addiction treatment/ mental health

  • Central Virginia Health Services also has a clinic that specializes in opioid and alcohol addition treatment called the Petersburg Recovery Center. For opioid addictions, they offer suboxone treatments (no methadone). They have two peer counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and behavioral health workers on staff.

    • They accept Medicare and Medicaid. For the uninsured, payments are made based on sliding scale (co-pay ranges from $5-$30).

    • 541 South Sycamore St. Petersburg, VA 23803, 804-835-6100

    • Hours of operation: Monday and Wednesday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Tuesday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm, Thursday 8:30 am - 7:00 pm.

  • District 19 provides crisis intervention, assessment and screening services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

    • 24-hour crisis lines: 804-862-8000

    • District 19 has Same Day Access. To schedule an intake appointment, call 804-862-8008. They are also open for walk-ins Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at 20 W Bank Street, Suite 8, 1st floor.

Job assistance/ resource center

The Virginia Community Resource Center located on 22 West Washington Street offers employment services, veterans services, and more. It houses multiple local and state organizations under one roof, including the Department of Social Services, VSU, Department of Veteran Services, and more. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 am. to 5 p.m.

Transportation

Petersburg Area Transit Paratransit Services (provides curb to curb services for ADA qualified passengers including senior citizens, Medicare card holders and persons with disabilities via wheelchair equipped vans. Call (804) 324-5658 or fill out an application here.

LGBTQIA+ resources/ HIV

  • Q Chat Space is an online source for youth to seek individual or group peer support by live chats.

  • The Trevor Project provides free counseling and support for LGBTQ children and young adults. Crisis support hotline: Call: (866) 488-7386 or Text: 678-678

  • Serenity, Inc. provides services to people living with HIV/AIDS and those at risk for HIV infection

    • 114 North Union Street Petersburg, Virginia 23803, 804-861-9977, serenity9977@yahoo.com

    • Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, please schedule an appointment, if possible.

    • Services include: grief counseling, education and employment assistance, decision making skills building, HIV 101, prevention and disease management, medication management, housing assistance, alcohol and drug counseling, peer groups

Senior resources

  • Crater District Area Agency on Aging, for age 60+ or those with disabilitiesPhone #: (804) 732-7020, 23 Seyler Drive Petersburg, VA 23805.

    • Services include: Home delivered meals, medical transportation, help with light housework, Medicare enrollment, counseling, support groups and caregiver training, respite care

  • Project Lifesavers (Petersburg) provides emergency personnel with a program designed to protect, and when necessary, quickly locate individuals with cognitive disorders who are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering.

    • Phone #: Petersburg’s Sheriff’s Office: (804)733-2369 - Petersburg Sheriff’s Office

Joyce Chu, an award-winning investigative journalist, is the Social Justice Watchdog Reporter for The Progress Index. Contact her with comments, concerns, or story-tips at Jchu1@gannett.com or on Twitter @joyce_speaks.

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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Here's a list of resources in Petersburg providing free food, financial aid and more