For Release: August 10, 2006
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: jtmartin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
McDonnell Tours Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank
--Urges Virginians to Support Their Local Food Bank—
Salem- Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell today continued his partnership with Virginia’s Food Banks by taking a tour of the headquarters of the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank in Salem. The Attorney General was joined on his tour by Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Roanoke City Manager Darlene L. Burcham, and City of Salem Director of Planning and Development Melinda Payne.
Speaking about the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank, and Food Banks in general, Attorney General McDonnell noted, “Food Banks play a critical role in feeding the hungry in Virginia. They are out there everyday in our communities ensuring that families and individuals receive nutritional meals, but more than that, ensuring that families and individuals have hope for a better tomorrow.”
McDonnell continued remarking, “And it is in helping children that Food Banks truly are building a better Virginia. Children who are well-nourished do better in school, setting themselves on the path to bright, productive futures. I encourage all Virginians to consider donating your time or money to your local Food Bank. They need your help.”
Pamela Irvine, Executive Director of the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank, commented, “We are so excited about our partnership with the Attorney General. One of our greatest challenges is community awareness and education in the communities we serve. In order for the food bank to generate adequate resources necessary to supply the demand we must establish national, state and local interest.”
The Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank covers an extremely large geographic area. The Food Bank provides food and other products to over 340 nonprofit feeding programs in 26 counties and 9 cities, from Covington all the way to Lee County. Last year the Food Bank distributed over $13 million worth of product in the region, a region in which 1 in every 4 children is classified as “food insecure.” The partner agencies of the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank feed an average of 80,000 individuals every month, however, recent information indicates that the Food Bank is still only reaching 50% of the citizens in need of assistance in this part of Virginia.
For more information on the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank, and the positive work they do everyday for the people of Southwest and Western Virginia, please visit: http://www.swvafoodbank.org/. To learn more about Attorney General Bob McDonnell’s commitment to helping all of Virginia’s Food Banks please visit: http://www.vaag.com/PRESS_RELEASES/Fighting%20Hunger.html
