There are 347,000 Southwest Virginians who live in poverty, and many will receive fresh produce for their holiday dinner tables thanks to Kroger and the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank in Salem. What had been the annual “Produce Frenzy” has been renamed the “Harvest of Hope.”
Food Bank CEO Pam Irvine says to eliminate confusion and a rush to collect the produce, they had the agencies sign up for a specific time to pick up their produce, which was distributed over three days. “We’re hoping to stretch it out to at least 40 to 60 agencies,” said Irvine. “This is probably going to reach at least 50,000 to 65,000 individuals.”
Kroger solicited the Grade A produce from their vendors across the U. S., resulting in 36 pallets containing 100 thousand pounds of produce; everything from peppers and asparagus to apples and squash was donated. Kroger officials also presented the Food Bank with a $23,000 check to buy even more food.
Irvine says they’re still seeing a huge increase in clients. “We’ve moved a million more pounds [of food] from July until [now] than we did last year. We’re seeing a horrendous increase–20 to 30 percent. There’s been some talk about a recovery in the economy; however, we’re not seeing that right now. It’s going to be a while, I think, before families see that.”
Jim Cameron from Lake Christian Ministries at Smith Mountain Lake agrees.
“We are like everybody else; our numbers are just escalating immensely. We used to figure 20 to 22 clients in a morning was busy. We did 47 clients, I think it was, [last Tuesday].”
Cameron is also part of the membership advisory committee for the Food Bank.
He said “agencies in Franklin and Bedford County have a similar story to tell.”
Irvine said the new faces of those in need are those who used to contribute financially to the Food Bank. “We’re hearing from them in letters and emails that they used to give to the Food Bank but now they’ve lost their jobs.”
According to Cameron, that’s happening at Lake Christian Ministries as well. “We’re having some come in that have been donors or would donate clothing or money and are laid off and just can’t do it. We’re very fortunate in that we do have enough resources that we’re carrying on.”
Irvine says the Food Bank (on Rt. 419 in Salem) is able to survive by partnering with Kroger and similar businesses and individuals “to bring to every family an education that the average American is struggling to put food on their table right now.” She looks to the average person for donations as well, even for their neighbor down the street. “It may not be a lot out of their pocketbook but it actually will mean a meal for someone who doesn’t have [one] today. We’re conduits of goodness that flows through us on to somebody else.”
By Beverly Amsler [email protected]