Category: Chew On This

15 years, thousands served What started with a few sites in Albemarle, Buckingham, and Nelson counties has grown into a network of 10 locations across our service area, from Arrington to Timberville, and from Highland to Scottsville. In FY25 alone, the MFP distributed more than 1 million pounds of food, including 627,000 pounds of fresh … Continued

With the federal shutdown still in effect, many people have questions about federal nutrition programs. Here is the latest information you should know: This situation continues to change quickly, and we’ll continue to monitor the situation closely and share updates here as they become available.  How to give help A shutdown adds new challenges at … Continued

Why Hunger Action Month matters According to Feeding America, more people than ever in the U.S. are experiencing food insecurity. And that reflects our experience: The Food Bank served an average of more than 171,200 guests each month last year—the most ever in our 44-year history.  This includes guests like Vanessa. This Lynchburg resident celebrated a 45-year … Continued

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is proud to welcome Kari Jorgensen Diener as our new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). With more than 25 years of leadership experience working in humanitarian organizations around the world, Kari brings to her new role a powerful combination of robust collaboration experience, deep compassion, and a lifelong commitment to … Continued

Voices from the pantry lines At the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, we see the impact of these programs every day across central and western Virginia. And we hear the lived realities of our neighbors who turn to us when federal nutrition programs fall short. For Tabitha, a stay-at-home mom of four—three with disabilities—SNAP once … Continued

Guests tell their stories We often hear powerful testimonies from individuals who share their reasons for turning to food pantries and the profound impact this support has on their lives. Their first-hand accounts underscore the immense importance of our collective efforts. Our guests often tell us that they don’t have the means to buy the … Continued

Partner Impact & Innovation Grants Under Michael’s leadership, the Food Bank prioritized building the capacity of its partner network. In 2017, he championed the launch of Food Bank donor-funded Partner Impact & Innovation (PII) Grants (an initiative originally called the Agency Capacity Fund). This initiative is designed to provide critical support to partner agencies—food pantries, … Continued

A lot more produce Michael’s vision to provide more healthy and nutritious food for guests started with a push that makes a lot of sense if your goal is to improve the health of the people you are serving: to distribute more fresh produce. A lot more. “Fifteen years ago, when Michael hired me, we … Continued

Reaching rural neighbors: Produce boxes In the Western Region (Verona) distribution center, volunteers pack produce boxes. Previously, the Food Bank purchased pre-packed produce boxes from an external supplier for guests at our Mobile Food Pantries. These mobile distributions are a lifeline for individuals and families across our service area who have limited access to grocery … Continued

What Is SNAP? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, is the most effective anti-hunger program in the United States, serving more than 40 million Americans each month. The program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture. The program used to be known as food stamps. SNAP makes a difference in … Continued