The Salem-Roanoke County Food Pantry already is receiving donations for the new year.
The pantry recently received $3,000 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation and will use the gift to help feed families in need in Salem and Roanoke County during 2019.
“We are truly grateful to Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation for providing funds so we can purchase food for our families in the coming year,” said Jennifer McCormick, executive director of the pantry, which has been providing food to those in need for more than 40 years.
In 2018, the pantry gave away more than $500,000 worth of food in almost 13,000 individual servings. Each qualifying family received a week’s worth of groceries per month.
The money from the Food Lion foundation will help ensure that each food order given away is nutritionally complete, pantry officials said in a news release.
The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to feeding the hungry in the communities it serves. Since its inception in 2001, the foundation has awarded more than $12 million in grants and funding.
The charitable foundation partners with Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief agency, in addition to local food agencies serving the 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states in which Food Lion operates.
Member One employees deliver holiday meals
In another act of giving, Member One Federal Credit Union delivered more than 60 meals to families for the holidays.
Credit union employees in Roanoke, Lynchburg, Franklin County and the New River Valley helped coordinate shopping for and delivery of meals, which included ham or turkey, potatoes, green beans, yams, rolls and pies.
The meals were delivered to the Bradley Free Clinic, the Free Clinic of Central Virginia, the Free Clinic of Franklin County and the Community Health Center of the New River Valley. Member One partnered with the clinics to identify families who would benefit from a meal for the holidays.
“A holiday meal can mean the world to a family who might be struggling for any number of reasons,” said Janine Underwood, executive director of the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke. “The generosity of Member One and their employees is so touching and appreciated. It’s incredibly important to see local businesses support our community and its residents.”
“Member One takes social responsibility seriously by supporting community investment initiatives throughout the entire year, and we know that the holidays can be an especially difficult financial time,” said Paul Economy, the credit union’s chief retail officer. “That’s why we wanted to help by providing a holiday meal to families in all of the areas that we reach in southwest and central Virginia.”
Appalachian Power Co. supports food banks
Appalachian Power Co. also donated funds to 15 food banks and feeding centers in Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia during the holiday season.
The $50,000 donation will help food banks be fully stocked for the high-use winter season.
“Food pantries are essential in providing access to nutritious food for people in need to feed themselves and their families,” said Brad Hall, vice president of external affairs for the electric utility. “Appalachian Power is proud to support these organizations that in turn serve thousands of people throughout our communities.”
Feeding America Southwest Virginia in Salem and Abingdon is among the agencies receiving part of the donation.
