Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

📚 Happy National Book Lovers Day! Today, we're celebrating the joy and knowledge that books bring into our lives. At the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, our team is passionate about nourishing both body and mind. Books inspire us, teach us, and provide a wonderful escape when we need it. To honor this day, our amazing staff has shared their favorite books (or current reads) with you! From novels that have touched our hearts to informative reads that expand our horizons, each book is a treasured companion. Here's a list of book recommendations we received in case you want to add them to your reading list: How the Light Gets by Louise Penny Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Unwind by Neal Schusterman Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley The Test by Sylvain Neuvel The Martian by Andy Weir The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Wool by Hugh Howey Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen A Beautiful Constraint: How To Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, and Why It's Everyone's Business by Adam Morgan and Mark Barden The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century by Alice Wong Nothing to Lose by Lee Child The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas What's your favorite book? Share with us in the comments below and let's spread the love of reading far and wide. Remember, just like a good book, our community is stronger and better when we support each other. #NationalBookLoversDay #BlueRidgeAreaFoodBank #CommunityReads

Alyssa is feeding four growing children on a tight budget. Her husband works full-time now but his wages have not kept up with the high cost of living. She cans food to make it last and makes her own bread to save money. And now Alyssa picks up fresh produce at the Augusta Health Food Pantry (a Food Bank Food Pharmacy site), where she also receives her health care. “It has helped me be able to eat healthier and put my health first… I always have struggled with eating healthy but when I am given the option that encourages me to follow through.” She’s grateful and is not sure how she would be able to bring fresh produce home to her family otherwise. In our recent blog post, "Food Is Medicine: How Food Banking Is Transforming to Transform Lives," we dive into the work we're doing with partners to improve guests' health outcomes. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3LJMzBK

1 in every 11 children experiences hunger in the Blue Ridge region. The problem worsens every year when schools close for summer and thousands of kids lose reliable access to breakfast and lunch. But there’s good news! USDA’s new, permanent grocery assistance program called SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, can help close the summer hunger gap. 🎒 SUN Bucks is a proven tool to reduce child hunger and support better nutrition. Providing families with grocery benefits during the summer months helps ensure every child has access to the nourishment they need, even when school is out. 🧡 🎥 Learn more about SUN Bucks from Feeding America supporter Chrissy Teigen 💻 Find FAQs and additional details at https://lnkd.in/eFhZwz5w

Twelve hours before Paulette pulled up in front of Good Samaritan in Orange on a recent Friday morning, she found herself, panicked, on the phone with a trusted friend. She didn’t know what to do and felt hopeless. “How am I going to feed my kids? Where can I go for help?” It turned out that help wasn’t that far away for the Orange resident, who, after an 11-year marriage, is now a single parent, caring for her five kids, ages 18, 16, 11, 6, and 5. Single-parent households are more likely to experience food insecurity than other types of households. In 2022, the USDA reported that 36.7% of households with incomes below the federal poverty line were food insecure, and that single-mother households were more than three times as likely to experience child food insecurity than married-couple households. “It’s tough to be a single parent. Society isn’t set up for single parents. I cry every night, I don’t mind telling you. I want the best for my kids, but I have no family or support system to lean on. I do my best, but I feel like I’m failing my kids. And I hate that feeling.” Paulette, who came to Good Samaritan with her daughter Treasure, is now in a place in her life where she will accept any help she can get. “Some people might be too proud to ask for help. But it’s for my kids, you know? I don’t care about pride. I care about feeding my kids.” Her first visit to Good Samaritan was a success for more than one reason. “I felt accepted. The people are so friendly and understanding. I was able to get enough food to feed my kids. There is so much positivity here. I smiled! A lot has happened in my life recently, and this was the first thing in a while that was good. It made me feel good, and it made me realize this: I am not alone.” Today is #ParentsAppreciationDay. When you support the Food Bank, you're supporting parents who are struggling to afford groceries. Consider making a donation today to help moms, dads, grandparents, and other adults provide meals for the children in their lives. Visit www.brafb.org/donate to make a gift now.

Yesterday was a special day for the Food Bank. We hosted Mayor Wade and our friends from the City of Charlottesville, Va - Government for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of our Cold Storage Expansion Project. We're grateful to the City for selecting the Food Bank as the recipient of federal funds, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Housing and Urban Development, that will help us store and distribute more nutritious fruits and vegetables to neighbors who need them. Why is this important? The demand for nutritious food has increased dramatically since the pandemic. The previous cooler was so small that we were often forced to refuse free, donated produce because there was just not enough room to safely store it. The new cooler is nearly triple the size of the cooler it replaced. This year, we expect to distribute 30 million pounds of food--about one-third of that will be nutritious produce. Thanks to this expansion, we can provide more fresh fruits and vegetables to the 22,000 individuals served by our Charlottesville distribution center, with the support of our 84 partner food pantry and program sites in the area. Thank you to the City for their generous support of this project. When people have access to nutritious food, they have the building blocks they need to lead healthier, happier lives. Thank you for investing in the health and well-being of our communities. You can view a video of yesterday's ribbon cutting on Facebook: https://lnkd.in/eDAQd-4i

💪🍎 We've got some big news to share! The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank's Healthy Pantry Initiative has taken off and is already improving health for Virginia's communities! This initiative helps food pantries in our network offer nutritious food, remove access barriers, provide health education, and build community connections. Let's nourish health together! Learn more about the Healthy Pantry Initiative by reading this blog, written by Food Bank staff member, Kara Snapp, MPH, C-IAYT. https://lnkd.in/eSbUh8kU #HealthyPantry #NourishingVirginia #FoodIsMedicine

🌈🎉 Happy Pride Month from the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank! We believe in fostering a community where everyone is welcomed and valued. We’re proud to support LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, ensuring everyone has access to nutritious food and a supportive community. Together, we can create a more inclusive and loving world. 💖 #PrideMonth #CommunitySupport

🌟 Join Our Team as a SNAP Outreach and Education AmeriCorps VISTA! 🌟 Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB) is looking for dedicated individuals to join our team as a SNAP Outreach and Education AmeriCorps VISTA Member! We have opportunities in Winchester, Verona, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg, VA. Position Details: 📅 Service Term: August 12, 2024 – August 11, 2025 ⌛ Full Time: 35 hours/week Why Join Us? As a VISTA member, you’ll play a crucial role in increasing community awareness of SNAP benefits, facilitating SNAP enrollment, and supporting broader household financial stability. Your efforts will help improve food security and expand access to vital resources across central and western Virginia. Key Responsibilities: ✅ Identify priority communities and partners for SNAP outreach ✅ Provide training and resources for SNAP enrollment assistance ✅ Develop communication strategies to engage older adults ✅ Create culturally relevant outreach materials ✅ Plan and execute social media campaigns ✅ Evaluate and optimize outreach strategies Benefits: 💰 Bi-weekly living allowance 🏠 Housing assistance ($4,800) 🏥 Healthcare benefits 📚 Education Award ($6,345) or End-of-Service Cash Stipend ($1,800) 🚗 Use of BRAFB fleet vehicle for work-related travel 📅 Personal, medical, and holiday leave 🚼 Childcare assistance 📈 Professional development and training opportunities Qualifications: ✔️ At least 18 years old, US Citizen/National, or Lawful Permanent Resident ✔️ Strong organizational and interpersonal skills ✔️ Valid driver’s license with a good driving record ✔️ Ability to speak publicly and facilitate trainings ✔️ High School diploma, GED, or equivalent We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, especially those with multilingual skills and lived experience with food insecurity. Diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values, and we believe in the excellence that comes from varied perspectives. Ready to make a meaningful impact? Apply now! 📍 Visit our website for more details and to apply: https://bit.ly/4dGuJw1 #AmeriCorps #VISTA #JoinOurTeam #FoodSecurity #CommunityImpact #SNAPOutreach #NonprofitJobs #DiversityAndInclusion #BRAFB

📣 We are thrilled to announce that our very own Michael McKee, CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, has been honored with the prestigious John van Hengel Fellowship Award for 2024! 🏆 This award, considered the highest honor in food banking, celebrates outstanding leadership, local impact, national influence, and entrepreneurial spirit in hunger relief efforts. Under Michael’s visionary guidance, the Food Bank has set new standards in the effort to end hunger. 🙌 Here are just a few highlights of his career: ⭐Innovative solutions: Under his leadership and in partnership with James Madison University, the Food Bank developed Nourish, a food-scoring software that is now also used at our sister food banks across the state. ⭐Community partnerships: He has prioritized groundbreaking partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations, ensuring that nutritious food reaches underserved populations. ⭐Growth and impact: Since Michael became CEO in 2013, the Food Bank has nearly doubled its staff and expanded its warehouse capacity significantly. This year, we are on track to distribute close to 30 million pounds of food—double the volume from a decade ago! Michael’s leadership is characterized by passion, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to our mission. His strategic vision and collaborative spirit have transformed our organization and strengthened our community. Join us in celebrating Michael McKee's remarkable achievement and his dedication to ending hunger. 🎉👏 👉 Read the full story, written by our Board of Directors Chair Hatsy Vallar, here on our blog: https://bit.ly/4bIg1mE

Wishing all our volunteers a very happy National Volunteer Month! We couldn't do what we do, without you. Thanks for all your help!