Feeding Southwest Virginia hosted approximately 30 elected officials at their Distribution Center in Salem. September is Hunger Action Month, and one way the Food Bank raises awareness of food insecurity is by offering elected officials of the region an opportunity to volunteer and champion strong anti-hunger policies.
The Food Bank relies on multiple federally funded programs to nourish an average of 129,000 neighbors every month. One such example is the Senior Box Kitting program, which sources food from the USDA. In addition, more than half of Feeding Southwest Virginia’s approximate 275 agency partners depend on the Food Bank’s inventory of USDA food to nourish neighbors in their respective communities. The Food Bank also utilizes federal support for their Summer Food Service Program, which provides hundreds of thousands of meals for children every summer.
President and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia, Pamela Irvine says, “Feeding people truly is a passion. It requires engagement across every city and country we serve.” Irvine continues, “Whether you serve on city council, as a sheriff, on the General Assembly, or on the Senate, we are grateful to you for partnering alongside us. You’ve helped us stay open for 45 years and continue to feed over 129,000 neighbors every month.”
The Food Bank was joined by such high-ranking officials as Congressman Ben Cline and Delegates Sam Rasoul and Lily Franklin. Officials from Salem, Roanoke, Roanoke County, Montgomery County, and Henry County were also in attendance.
The elected officials worked together to sort, inspect, and bag potatoes for neighbors to enjoy in Southwest Virginia.
