AARP VIRGINIA STATEWIDE COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER

You Can Help Fight Hunger in Your Neighborhood

It takes just a little to give back a lot, and no matter where you live, you can help fight hunger in your community during the month of September.

The AARP Virginia Statewide Community Food Drive coincides with the Nationwide Hunger Action Month and collection sites statewide will accept food for community food banks and food pantries.  Volunteers across the Commonwealth are organizing food drives in their communities throughout September to aid local food charities.

You can help right where you live!  Individuals and organizations interested in joining the effort can spearhead a food collection event in their community.  You can also help by identifying food collection sites, getting the word out about the food drive and staffing food collection sites.  It’s a great project for clubs, faith organizations, schools and other groups.

More than 900,000 Virginians are at risk for hunger. While donations to food banks have decreased, requests for food assistance has increased.  The Federation of Virginia Food Banks offers a good starting point for individuals desiring to help.  If you are able to help in a small or large way please begin by contacting your local representative food bank using the directory below:

• Capital Area Food Bank—Virginia LocationContact: Maria Booker: mbooker@capitalareafoodbank.org6833 Hill Park Road, Lorton, VA  22079Phone: 703-541-3063Website: www.capitalareafoodbank.org.
• Fredericksburg Regional Food BankContact: Carey Sealy: csealy@fredfood.org3631 Lee Hill Drive, Fredericksburg, VA  22408Phone: 540-371-7666 ext.126Website: www.fredfood.org.
• Feed More, Inc.Contact: Christy Dalton: cdalton@feedmore.org1415 Rhoadmiller Street, Richmond, VA  23220Phone: 804-549-5668Website: www.feedmore.org.
• Foodbank of Southeastern VirginiaContact: Candice Burton: cburton@foodbankonline.org800 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA  23504Phone: 757-314-4575Website: www.foodbankonline.org.
• FoSV - Eastern Shore Distribution CenterContact: Candice Burton: cburton@foodbankonline.org24530 Coastal Blvd, Tasley, VA  23441Phone: 757-314-4575.
• Feeding America Southwest Virginia (FASWVA)Contact: Amanda Allen: aallen@faswva.org1025 Electric Road, Salem, VA  24153Phone: 540-444-2942Website: www.faswva.org.
• Feeding America Southwest Virginia (FASWVA) - Abingdon Distribution CenterContact: David Mitchell, Branch Director: dmillsap@faswva.org21452 Gravel Lake Road, Abingdon, VA 24211Phone: 276-628-9266.
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB)Contact: Jennifer Clark Robertson: jclarkrobertson@brafb.org96 Laurel Hill Road, Verona, VA 24482Phone: 540-213-8402Website: www.brafb.org

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank has distribution centers in Verona, Winchester, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg, Virginia.