ABOUT

Our mission is to empower teens and young adults by meeting their needs, promoting healthy living, and building leadership and career skills for lifelong success.

At SOA SERVE, we are dedicated to empowering teens and young adults aged 12-24 in Virginia Beach through programs that focus on career readiness, leadership development, and life skills training. Our goal is to help at-risk youth overcome challenges, achieve academic success, and prepare for a brighter future, while reducing the risk of criminal behavior and guiding them toward positive life choices.

Our Programs

Mentorship Coaching

We provide support to youth facing obstacles like trauma, emotional distress, and uncertainty. With the expertise of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Virginia Career Coach, our program helps students build resilience, develop leadership skills, and find direction for their future. We create a safe, focused, and supportive environment while empowering students to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially, especially during vulnerable after-school and out-of-school hours.

The Hunger Relief Snack Box

Our Snack Box Program provides hunger relief to families across Hampton Roads during school breaks. Each seasonal distribution offers nutritious, easy-to-prepare snacks to youth ages 12–24, helping reduce food insecurity when school meals aren’t available. 

Access to healthy food plays a vital role in a child’s focus, energy, and overall well-being. By ensuring that students have nutritious options at home, we help bridge the gap between school-based support and family needs. In 2024, we proudly served over 120 students, and with the growing demand for food-based resources, we anticipate that number will double in 2025. Through community donations and local partnerships, every box we deliver represents nourishment, access, and care for our youth and families. 

How to Register

There are five Snack Box Event Dates throughout the year, including Fall Break, Winter Break, Spring Break, and two Summer Snack Boxes. Registration for each event opens three weeks in advance and is available right here on our website. You can also subscribe to receive email notifications when registration opens and to stay informed about upcoming SOA SERVE programs and events.

• Sharing our mission with your friends, neighbors, and community partners
• Volunteering as a delivery driver or food packer
• Donating non-perishable food items such as granola bars, protein bars, applesauce, and fruit cups
• Giving a monetary donation through our secure donation link or by providing a gift card to help us purchase fresh and shelf-stable snacks for families in need

Family Storehouse Program

The Family Storehouse provides emergency groceries and pantry essentials to help families facing food insecurity. Located in Virginia Beach, our storehouse supports households in need of nutritious meals and emergency food assistance. Families can contact us directly to request help, most requests are filled the same day.

WHY IT MATTERS
Our services are vital for students who face limited access to essential resources, and we’re proud to serve the community in ways that make a real difference. In our first full year of operation, we served 63 students from individual households, with over 120 inquiries from parents, teachers, and students seeking our services. Virginia Beach is the home of our operations with a future goal of expanding centers to increase access to at-risk students across Hampton Roads.

At SOA SERVE, we believe in creating a foundation for long-term success, offering guidance, resources, and mentorship to help young people navigate life’s challenges and prepare for a promising future.

THE PROBLEM WE SOLVE

Crime Trends in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads Among Youth Over Five Years

Violent and property crimes by youths aged between 12 and 24 years in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads have exhibited trends in the past five years while crime prevention interventions have yielded varying outcomes. Based on data collected from local government reports and media analysis, we consider these trends and the roles technology, community participation, and social media play in youth decison making.

Virginia Beach Violent Crime Trends

Virginia Beach government (2023) reports that those violent crimes categorized under Part I have reduced in the last five years even as they rise across the country. Compared to 2017, violent crime in 2022 declined by 21 percent where aggravated assault by 25 and 23 percent compared to 2021 respectively. Still, the level of robberies elevated to 12% in 2022 due to the planning by robbery crews involving youth. Morales (2024) found that WHRO’s violent crime rate dropped by an extra 15.3% by 2024 and a significant decrease in shootings and homicides. Total shooting victims reduced from 67 in 2023 to 31 in 2024. However, youth suspects and victims’ homicides increased, mainly due to unmonitored social media-related conflicts (Batey, 2025).

Property Crime Trends

Property crime trends in Virginia Beach reveal both progress and ongoing challenges. Burglaries declined by 37% from 2019–2022, while thefts from vehicles increased by 13% in 2022 (Virginia Beach Government, 2023).

Hampton Roads Regional Analysis

In Hampton Roads, homicide trends have shifted over the past year. Newport News saw a significant decrease, dropping from 47 in 2023 to 28 in 2024, while Chesapeake experienced a slight increase (Batey, 2025). Virginia Beach, though reporting fewer homicides overall, has faced challenges with youth-related violence and social media–driven conflicts that escalate into real-world incidents. Community initiatives such as Operation Ceasefire and Stop the Violence 757 continue to play an important role in promoting safety and reducing violence across the region.

HOW WE SOLVE IT

SOA SERVE’s ability to create targeted recreational opportunities for youth, focusing on mentorship and positive engagement, will work to intervene in this cycle. Providing safe spaces for youth to engage in constructive activities and mentorship has been shown to reduce youth involvement in violent behavior, steer them away from harmful influences like social media conflicts and grooming by creating pathways for better academic, emotional, and social outcomes.

ARCHIVED 2024

Research, efficacy, and needs analysis of our program launch scheduled for 2024.

Update (February 12, 2024) Our Annual Teen Hunger Needs Survey is officially closed. Thank you for your participation! The results help us strengthen our impact where it’s needed most.

(January 1, 2024): Our Annual Teen Hunger Needs Survey is now live! Please take a moment to share with anyone ages 15-25 to help us determine the road ahead to addressing food insecurity amongst our youth. (Link ended)

The Holiday Hunger Relief program aims to provide nutritious meals and snacks to economically disadvantaged households with teens during school holiday breaks. Our program operates on a first-come, first-served basis, for families with teens to ease the financial stress for parents. By offering grab-and-go boxes of snacks, fresh fruits, vegetables, and other easy options during holiday breaks, we aim to alleviate teen hunger, and parents’ stress, and foster a sense of community among the recipients.