As a regional food bank and member of the Feeding America Network and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, Feeding America Southwest Virginia strives to reduce food insecurity in the region. By working with a network of approximately 400 partner agencies, Feeding America Southwest Virginia works toward the mission to feed the region's hungry and engage the region in the fight to end hunger.
The FASWVA network includes two main food distribution centers, located in Salem and Abingdon, that supplies local food pantries and soup kitchens across the region. Food and funding are secured from local sources such as farmers, retailers, government, and manufacturers and a well established distribution system delivers resources through local networks to reduce food insecurity for individuals and families in need in in the southwest part of the state. Food and funding is also secured from national sources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). FASWVA recently won a $60,000 grant in the Walmart "Fight Hunger Spark Change" challenge, finishing at #13 out of the 126 participating food banks.
| Type of Organization | Non-profit |
| Website | https://www.faswva.org/ |
| Primary Contact |
Pamela Irvine, (540) 342-3011 ext 7002 |
| Social Media |
History of Organization: The Feeding America Southwest Virginia Food Bank was founded in 1981 to reduce hunger in a region where the economic landscape has been altered by plant and mine closings, a slow influx of new jobs and constrained job re-retraining opportunities. FASWVA has been able to provide the basic need of food to those that have lost their job, suffered illness, or can't afford all their basic needs on a fixed income through community food drives, stores, farmers, USDA resources, and working with other Feeding America Food banks. Through these efforts and the help of community partners allows the organization to serve 26 counties and 9 cities in Southwest Virginia.
Programs and Projects: Feeding America BackPack Program provides weekend meals for children that may only have access to schools meals by sending home bags of nutritous and easy-to-make foods to help fight child hunger. The Feeding America Kids Cafe program provides summer and after school meals and snacks to low-income kids at community locations such as churches, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs. The USDA sponsored Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides nutritious foods and snacks to children and adults in day care programs in our region. Mobile Food Pantries in Salem and Abingdon provide an additional way to fight hunger in our region. Community donations and events such as the Summer Juice Drive and Stand Up to Hunger are an invaluable component of the ability to serve those in need.
Partners and Frequent Collaborators
