Food Lion Feeds has awarded $5,500 to Valley Baptist Food Pantry to support improvements identified by the pantry team, including fresh produce distribution and an improved neighbor and volunteer experience.
A partner agency of Feeding Southwest Virginia, Valley Baptist Food Pantry will use the investment to strengthen its operations and build on its ongoing work to provide neighbors across Henry County with access to nourishing food.
on Sept. 3, local Food Lion associates worked alongside pantry staff and volunteers during the makeover, contributing time and hands-on support to help bring the pantry’s vision for the space to life. Food Lion Feeds also supplied the pantry with several pounds of nutritious pantry staples to help keep shelves stocked for local neighbors.
“We serve up to 200 neighbors a month,” Pastor Bobby Rakes, director of Valley Baptist Food Pantry said. Pastor Rakes has served as the pastor of Valley Baptist Church for more than 35 years.
Upon seeing the need for nutritious food in Henry County, he spearheaded efforts to open a food pantry on September 17, 1999.
Pastor Rakes added “the need for healthy food in Henry County is growing. We need support from partners like Feeding Southwest Virginia and Food Lion so we can continue to serve.”
Food Lion’s investment of more than $5,000 contributed to purchases of new shelving, flooring, a commercial chest freezer, two hand-trucks, technological needs, and shopping implements for visiting neighbors. The grocery retailer also donated fresh produce and canned goods to support Valley Baptist Food Pantry’s continued distributions. Additionally, the award will help support the pantry’s weekly home delivery services to nourish neighbors who are homebound by illness or injury or unable to travel.
With support from The Great Pantry Makeover, Valley Baptist Food Pantry will increase its cold-storage capacity and improve the pantry shopping experience for those they serve.
These improvements build on the pantry team’s ongoing work to nourish neighbors in Henry County. “Every pantry knows its community best and has a clear vision for how its space can continue welcoming and serving neighbors with care,” said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. “The Great Pantry Makeover gives our associates the opportunity to work alongside pantry staff, while pouring care into our communities. We are grateful for the work our local pantries do every day and are proud to support improvements that help nourish our neighbors.”
This September, Food Lion Feeds will invest $190,000 in makeovers at 33 local food pantries and donate more than 92,000 pounds of shelf-stable food to participating pantries. Food Lion associates across the company’s 10-state operating area will work alongside local pantry teams to complete improvements such as painting, cleaning and installing shelves, signage and equipment.
Since 2015, Food Lion Feeds has supported more than 380 food pantries through The Great Pantry Makeover. The annual campaign is part of Food Lion Feeds’ recognition of Hunger Action Month and reflects its longstanding collaboration with Feeding America® food bank partners and local hunger-relief organizations.
