Learn more about the Food Bank.
Since 1981, the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank has provided millions of pounds of food.

Since 1981, the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank has provided millions of pounds of food and related product to approximately 350 partner agencies that directly serve the families and individuals in need of emergency food assistance. Without the Food Bank’s distribution program there would be severe and detrimental effects on the types and qualities of services that our partner agencies provide the thousands of disadvantaged families and individuals living in our communities.

The Food Bank does not directly distribute food to those families and individuals in need of food assistance but, instead, acts as a distribution center to locate, transport, store and distribute the food to our partner agencies that do.

Our partner agencies include non-profit food pantries, children's feeding programs, shelters, soup kitchens, and elderly care facilities. These partner agencies rely on the Food Bank to provide them with the large quantities of food to which they may not otherwise have access.

The Food Banking Process in our Area

Food banking is a daunting process of balancing donated food and sufficient funds to secure, transport, track, properly store and distribute food to agencies throughout Southwestern Virginia. Last year, the Food Bank distributed over 11 million pounds of food and related product from its 3 facilities. Based on audited calculations, this food had a value of over $15 million.

But the challenges persist. The availability of donated food in our region and across the nation is shrinking. A volatile economy and more sophisticated production by manufacturers continue to reduce errors that previously brought more plentiful food donations. Both manufacturers and retailers are turning more and more to selling previously donated food to a secondary market rather than donating.

Food manufacturers located in Virginia, and especially in Southwestern Virginia, are limited. Competition for limited food resources by other food banks and other emergency food providers across the nation tests our ability to secure food. To meet the demand in our area, the Food Bank is forced to reach out to more distant markets for food.

The Need for Food Banks

The Food Bank is an essential service to our communities. Yet it is often overlooked in today’s society. It is difficult for many of us to believe, accept, or admit that hungry people exist in today’s culture…in our hometowns…and even in our neighborhoods. But hunger studies continue to document that need. Few people will face the feelings of humiliation by standing in line for hours for donated food without a crucial need.

Many circumstances contribute to an inadequate food supply. It may be short term because of the loss of a job or long term because of inadequate fixed incomes or terminal or acute illness. Whatever the reason, hunger does exist in our region and the mission of the Food Bank is to strive to meet that basic need. This region of Southwestern Virginia has also been hard hit by coalmine slow-downs and closings, business closings (such as Dana Manufacturers, American Furniture and others), work force reductions, limited job opportunities and constraints to job re-training opportunities.

The nutritional needs of thousands of deprived families in Southwestern Virginia rests with the Food Bank and its partner agencies. Most are families with children that depend on temporary food or meals due to the loss of a job, temporary layoffs, natural disasters such as floods, illness and other factors that contribute to their food insecurity.