Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Feeding Southwest Virginia held an event on Friday, Sept. 13 at its 1025 Electric Road location in Salem to bring together local elected officials and community partners to celebrate the renovation of its Salem distribution site. As part of the event, elected officials volunteered at the center. Among those present was Rep. Morgan Griffith, who represents Virginia’s 9th Congressional District.
September is Hunger Action Month when the Feeding America Network launches a national public awareness campaign to shine a light on the problem that every community in America experiences hunger. In Southwest Virginia, one in seven individuals will experience food insecurity and one in five children will suffer from hunger.
The Feeding Southwest Virginia ribbon cutting event celebrated building updates, that had long been neglected, thanks to infrastructure funding provided over the past few years. Everything from a remodel of the administration offices in Salem to new dock doors and new reach lifts, was celebrated.
For Feeding Southwest Virginia Food Bank, communication with elected officials is very important at this time as Congress will address the Farm Bill this year. The Farm Bill is at the heart of the mission of the Food Bank. The organization is asking Congress to double TEFAP funding and to increase other means of support to end hunger. The programs authorized by the Farm Bill help to bridge the gap for children, families and seniors facing food insecurity in SW Virginia.
