A new mobile health van will carry food and provide HIV testing to people in low-income communities in Richmond and the surrounding counties.

The mobile unit is a venture of the Nationz Foundation, a three-year-old health services organization based in Henrico County that works to address HIV and AIDs. The new mobile unit will help the organization expand its existing health and hunger-relief programs particularly to underserved communities and the LGBTQ community.

Put into service Thursday, Aug. 9, the van will enable the foundation to provide help to people with limited transportation.

“This van will allow us to take our services where they are needed most and eliminate the barriers that often prevent those who need help from seeking it,” said Zakia K. McKensey, founder and executive director of the foundation.

The new mobile will operate three days a week, Ms. McKensey said, and is expected to serve hundreds of families a month through the distribution of food, health education and testing.

The van will be based at the foundation’s headquarters at 1200 Bentley St., off Brook Road just north of the city line, Ms. McKensey said.

She said the foundation is an outgrowth of her 15 years of experience in HIV education and prevention with the Fan Free Clinic and the Richmond City Health District.

Ms. McKensey started the foundation in 2015 to increase education and information efforts related to HIV prevention, health and wellness, to link HIV patients to care and support and to help people learn how to care for themselves.