Feed More

Neighbors helping neighbors is what our work is all about, and that kindness shows up in many ways. A heartfelt thank you to our hunger-fighting partners, and new Villa Park neighbors, at Brown Distributing Company VA. We're so proud and appreciative of Brown's support over the past two years of construction at our new hunger-fighting home - and in celebration of our move, Brown recently stopped by to donate over 800 pounds of nonperishable goods for our neighbors in need! In addition to this generous donation, the Brown team also provided our hardworking team samples of their delicious new #RichmondCoffee! We’re humbled, and grateful for Brown Distributing’s ongoing support -- since 2010, Brown’s generous contributions have enabled us to provide 65,000+ meals for our neighbors in need across Central VA! Thank you for the warm welcome to the neighborhood!

As the USDA reports, more than half of all food-insecure households in the United States last year had one or more adult members employed full time. Many of the neighbors we serve are underemployed — they have a job, but don’t always earn enough to make ends meet. And while food prices have dropped from an all-time high, groceries are still 20% higher today than they were in 2021. On top of that, homeowners insurance is also up 20% over the past two years, while childcare costs are rising at nearly double the pace of overall inflation. This all means more families are turning to their local food pantries to make ends meet. In fact, 70% of the neighbors we serve face tough choices every day between affording food and other needed expenses like rent and utilities, transportation, and health care. But that's why we're here: to provide our neighbors with nourishment, and hope, during their time of need. Every action, big or small, makes a real, and tangible, difference in the lives of so many across Central Virginia. Learn how you can get involved at: FeedMore.org. https://lnkd.in/gHWt8J2J

We had a blast showing our friends and loved ones our new food bank building at our recent Employee & Family Event! From fun games to tours of our new Distribution Center and Community Kitchen, thank you to everyone who stopped by - the new space feels like home already!

A heartfelt thank you to our hunger-fighting partners at Lakewood Retirement Community (LifeSpire of Virginia) for stopping by to drop off this incredible food drive donation — more than 1,600 pounds of canned goods, cereals, and other shelf stable foods for our neighbors in need! In addition to Lakewood residents, students and families at Ruby F. Carver Elementary School (Henrico County Public Schools) LeafSpring School at Three Chopt St. Michael's Episcopal School RICHMOND MONTESSORI SCHOOL INC. and #TuckahoeMontessoriSchool collected and donated food — thank you to everyone who participated! A committed community partner, Lakewood has donated enough food and funds over the years to provide nearly 30,000 meals for those wrestling with food insecurity across Central Virginia! In addition, Lakewood residents have contributed an amazing 850+ hours of volunteer service with our Community Kitchen, Children's Programs and more. We couldn't do what we do without caring neighbors like you!

Thank you to the Wawa, Inc. Foundation for contributing generous funding in support of our Children's Programs with the #FlyBeyond grant! Your support helps to provide students in Central Virginia with increased access to more nutritious meal and snack options!

Congratulations to our Agency Partner Hopewell Food Pantry for receiving grant funding from the L.B. Charitable Foundation! As the pantry’s Board Chairman Richard Commander tells ABC 8 News, the contribution will be vital as the pantry works to meet the growing need for food assistance in Hopewell, especially during the holiday season. “We serve about 400 individuals below 18 and 600 individuals between 19 and 64.” We’re proud to work alongside Hopewell Food Pantry, and the 250+ pantries and nonprofits we partner with, to get food out to our neighbors in need across the 34 Central Virginia cities and counties we serve! https://lnkd.in/eEymSBR8

We’re proud to stand together with our fellow Feeding America member food banks as they work to support neighbors recovering from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. That’s why we donated over 20,000 pounds of shelf-stable food this week to our fellow Feeding America member, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee. This donation was enabled by a shipment of disaster relief boxes generously prepared by our friends at ALDI USA and supplemented with food from our inventory, and will provide much-needed relief as the food bank works to help families and individuals in their community get back on their feet. Because times like these just go to show that when we come together, we can all make a meaningful difference for our neighbors in their time of need.

The face of hunger is more familiar than you might think. Every neighbor we help has a story, and Bill was kind enough to share his with us. After retiring as a food distribution manager, Bill tells us he fell on hard times and mounting medical bills depleted his savings. A lung cancer and stroke survivor, he says it can be difficult to manage his diet with his limited income, and is thankful for the variety of healthy options that he receives at Cumberland Community Cares, a food pantry serving a community where grocery stores are few and far between. “I was very sick,” he says. “[If it weren’t for Cumberland Community Cares] I'd be spending money I don't have to drive back and forth to [the next-closest grocery store in] Farmville and pay those high prices [for food and gas]. Since I'm on social security, those high prices just knock you out on everything. It's been a lifesaver.” As medical costs, insurance and more continue to soar, our data shows us that this leads to more neighbors seeing their budgets stretched to their breaking point. And we know that often, these neighbors face a longer road to recovery from economic hardship. That's why we work to provide the nourishing foods that our community needs to thrive. Learn how you can give help or get help at FeedMore.org.

Happy Virginia Community Health Worker Awareness Week! We understand the important role community health workers (CHWs) play in improving health outcomes and promoting equity in healthcare access, and are super proud to officially have a CHW on our team. Let's give it up for our Community Benefits Outreach Coordinator Dustin, who recently completed his Community Health Worker training and earned his certified CHW credential! 🎉 At Feed More, we’re committed to providing development opportunities through continued investment in our people, as they're the heart and soul of our hunger-fighting operations. Congratulations Dustin - super proud of you and can't wait to see the good you'll continue to do in our community! 💚 And BIG thanks to the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority for your continued investment in developing a skilled and robust healthcare workforce across the Commonwealth. #CommunityHealthWorkers #CHW #WorkingTogether #Healthcare

Learn how we're working alongside our distribution partners to address the increased need for food assistance and help our neighbors impacted by the recent Boar's Head plant closure in Jarratt, VA. And if you, or someone you know, needs help with food, please call our Hunger Hotline (804-237-8617; Monday- Friday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.) or visit our online Agency Locator to get connected to the food and resources you need! https://lnkd.in/ejM-ACg7