11/12/02
As partners for the Virginia Farm Bureau Autumn Harvest Food Drive closed the books on the first-ever statewide effort Oct. 31, they also began planning for next year.
“We started from scratch late last summer to plan this event, so we knew it would be a challenge,” explained Helen Neese, VFB’s Women’s Committee chairman. “We’ve learned a lot about how much extra work it takes to coordinate a statewide effort, and I know Farm Bureau women and our partners will do a better job next year.
Along with the women’s group, the partners for this year’s drive were the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, the Virginia High School League, Food Lion stores across the state and Virginia’s 13 electric cooperatives. Total pounds of food collected came to 31,280.
“Just because our food drive is over doesn’t mean the hunger demand is gone,” Ms. Neese added. “It’s almost overwhelming how many folks are struggling to keep food on the table. American agriculture is the most efficient in the world, and Farm Bureau women believe there’s no reason for anyone in this country to go hungry, especially children.
“Please continue giving to other local food drives across the state in the months to come,” she pleaded.
“We think the (statewide food drive) is a wonderful idea with tremendous potential for growth,” echoed Fay Lohr, executive director of the Central Virginia Food Bank. “Everyone involved has a good vision of what we’d like to see, and the publicity for the drive went well.”
According to the federation, 40 percent of food bank clients have children under age 18. About 40 percent of recipients have at least one employed member of the household and about 12 percent are elderly.
In the past fiscal year, Virginia food banks distributed a total of 40 million pounds of food, up from 38 million pounds the previous year. And the demand continues to grow.
The most desired foods needed are canned meats, fish, and poultry; peanut butter, cereal, soup, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, pasta sauces, and baby products like formula, baby food, diapers and bottles.