Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Inc

THE FOOD BANK PURCHASES FOOD AND OBTAINS DONATIONS OF FOOD FROM MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS, RETAILERS, GROWERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN 25 COUNTIES AND EIGHT CITIES IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN VIRGINIA THROUGH A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 220 PROVIDERS, SOUP KITCHENS, AND SHELTERS AND THROUGH NUTRITION PROGRAMS WITH MORE THAN 190 COMMUNITY PARTNERS. NEARLY 25 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SERVING ON AVERAGE 109,500 PEOPLE EACH MONTH.

THE FOOD BANK ACQUIRED AND DISTRIBUTED 22.3 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED THROUGH A NETWORK OF 220 FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, AND COMMUNITY SHELTERS. MORE THAN SEVEN MILLION POUNDS OF THE FOOD DISTRIBUTED WAS FRESH PRODUCE. THIS REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 18.6 MILLION MEALS SERVED TO AN AVERAGE OF 93,300 PEOPLE EACH MONTH. ADDITIONALLY, NEARLY 1.8 MILLION POUNDS OF RESCUED FOOD WAS DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO OBTAIN VARIOUS QUANTITIES OF FOOD AND NON-FOOD ITEMS THROUGH RECIPROCAL EXCHANGE. THE FOOD BANK HAS RECEIVED A FOUR-STAR RATING FROM CHARITY NAVIGATOR AND A PLATINUM SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY FROM GUIDESTAR.

IN ADDITION TO DISTRIBUTION THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNER PANTRIES, THE FOOD BANK'S MOBILE FOOD PANTRY AND NEIGHBORHOOD PRODUCE MARKET PROGRAMS DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 1.3 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO AN AVERAGE OF 4,000 INDIVIDUALS EACH MONTH IN RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS. FOOD DISTRIBUTED INCLUDED FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY, MEAT, AND SHELF-STABLE ITEMS.

THE FOOD BANK'S NUTRITION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING RURAL NEIGHBORS, CHILDREN, AND SENIORS, AND NEARLY 1.3 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WERE ACQUIRED AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. MORE THAN 13,200 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE FED EACH MONTH ON AVERAGE THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: THE FAMILY BACKPACK PROGRAM WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF HUNGRY CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING THE FOUNDATION OF FAMILY MEALS FOR WEEKENDS AND EXTENDED BREAKS WHEN CHILDREN CANNOT ACCESS SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS; GOOD FOOD SCHOOL MARKETS PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE TO TEENS DISTRIBUTIONS, MONTHLY AND AT SCHOOL BREAKS, OF NUTRIENT-RICH FOODS INCLUDING FRESH PRODUCE, AT HIGH SCHOOL BASED PANTRIES; KIDS CAFE PROVIDES NUTRITIOUS SNACKS AND MEALS FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS; SUMMER KID PACKS AND SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAMS SERVE NOURISHING MEALS AND SNACKS AND PROVIDE BAGS OF SHELF-STABLE FOOD AT NEIGHBORHOOD RECREATION AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CHURCHES WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION. THE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS DELIVERED BOXES OF FOOD MONTHLY TO 2,800 HOMEBOUND AND LOW-INCOME SENIORS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE FOOD PHARMACY PROGRAM SUPPLIES IN-CLINIC FOOD PANTRIES IN SERVICE OF CLINICIAN REFERRED PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS AND FOOD INSECURITY WITH FOODS THAT MEET THEIR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. THE SUPER PANTRY PROGRAM IS A SIX-WEEK COURSE MANAGED BY THE VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WHICH INSTRUCTS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN FOOD PREPARATION, BASIC BUDGETING, FOOD SAFETY AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS.