Chew On This
Thoughtful reflections on the work to solve hunger in central and western Virginia, and insights into the experiences of our neighbors in need, from Food Bank staff and guest contributors.
Women and Food Insecurity: Strength in Adversity
Women are strong, compassionate, and resilient. Yet, despite decades of progress in gender equality, women disproportionately experience hunger and poverty compared to American men. As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic crisis, an elevated need for food assistance is being fueled by an uneven economic recovery, especially [...]
Learning By Listening: My Internship With the Food Bank Has Helped Me Understand the Needs of My Community
As I reflect upon my time interning at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, I think about the first story I helped gather at the Timberville Mobile Food Pantry one cold January day. The woman we spoke to faced many challenges and relied on the [...]
What’s Next? After a Pandemic, Recession and Surge in Hunger
Grappling with big questions about the future of food assistance [The following is a written summary of material presented in a virtual CEO Forum event on Oct. 7, 2021] What an impact one year can have—on the world, on our country, on our state, and in each of our [...]
Madison Emergency Services Association (MESA): A Story of Abundance
Food Bank pantry partner MESA demonstrates what it means to be a community food hub If you’ve ever spent time in Madison County, you’ve heard about the flood. In 1995, a thunderstorm stalled in the mountains and released a deluge on the rolling hills and farmland below. Flash flooding claimed three lives, and many more lost everything they had [...]
Meet Sally: Giving Back
“It’ll take a lifetime to give back all that was given to me,” Sally Latimer said at the start of another busy day at the Monacan Indian Nation Food Bank in Amherst, which works with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Sally and her team of four were preparing [...]
When a Community Comes Together, Real Change Can Be Made
By Sarah Mallan As someone who works closely with events that benefit the Food Bank, I’ve missed being able to get together in person. But I’ve also been inspired by the many people who have found ways to continue to support the Food Bank over the past year. From [...]