Feeding the Hungry
By Bill MimsEdith Osterbauer runs a food pantry at her church in Radford. In the 13 years that her program has been feeding the hungry, the situation has never been so grim. She now finds herself at the center of the economic downturn, with major manufacturers laying-off employees.
“We’ve been hit really hard,” Osterbauer said. “It just gets worse and worse, more businesses closing and cutting back. And people come to us because they need food to eat. There’s an extreme, desperate need for food.”
At this time of year, donations to Virginia’s food banks are down. Yet demand is hitting a record high. That’s the focus of this year’s “Legal Food Frenzy.” And the timing couldn’t be better. The 3rd annual statewide “Legal Food Frenzy” aims to raise 1.5 million pounds of food for the hungry, more than 1 million meals, through April 10.
“The competition could not come at a better time,” agreed Leslie Van Horn, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. “Food banks throughout the Commonwealth currently are experiencing an historic surge in demand for assistance.”
Founded by former Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the benevolent contest is the only statewide food drive in the history of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, and is a partnership of the Office of the Attorney General and the Virginia Bar Association.Our food drive has become so popular that other states – including North Carolina, Indiana, New Jersey, Florida and Nebraska -- may copy it.
“With the success of Virginia’s first-in-the-nation statewide ‘Legal Food Frenzy,’ we look to similarly partner with food banks to combat hunger,” said Greg Zoeller, Attorney General of Indiana. “I hope our efforts in Indiana help take Virginia’s successful Legal Food Frenzy to the next level nationally.”
According to Chris Gill of the Virginia Bar Association, “With the downturn in the economy sending so many more Virginians to the food banks' shelves, the success of this project is even more important this year.”
Van Horn, of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, added, “We have always said that there are three faces of hunger – the working poor, children and senior citizens. But now there is a fourth face of hunger and one everyone knows – your neighbor, or a co-worker’s spouse, who has been laid off or their company has closed and they are unable to find a new job.”
Lawyers are among the privileged in our society. We have a corresponding obligation to help our neighbors in need. The Legal Food Frenzy is an excellent way to give back to our communities.
You can donate – whether you work in a Virginia law firm or not -- by visiting www.legalfoodfrenzy.com.
Click here for Consumer Alert of the Month Archives