Library Branches Tackle Food Insecurity With Annual Drive
May 18, 2018
By SHELBY MERTENS
Daily News-Record 5/18/18
During the summer months, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank sees an increasing need for food donations, as children must eat their meals at home instead of in the school cafeteria.
But with vacations and other summer activities that keep people busy, donations tend to fall off this time of year, which is why the Massanutten Regional Library system hosts an annual food drive to help fill the need.
The “Food for Fines” food drive began at all seven library branches on May 16 and runs until May 26. This is the 12th year MRL has held the food drive.
“One of the things we’d like to highlight is that people face food insecurity when school ends and kids no longer have access to the free or reduced meals,” said Michael Evans, the director of advancement at Massanutten Regional Library.
The libraries are preparing for their summer reading programs, and Evans said kids need to be properly nourished in order to focus on reading.
“For us, it’s very important that we understand for children, reading is important for all the learning they do, but we also know that not being hungry is important to be able to learn,” he said. “We’re promoting reading throughout the summer and children shouldn’t go hungry.”
Carrie Covey, the associate director of development at Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, said the food bank’s donations tend to drop off once school lets out.
“Leading into the summer months, attention to hunger can slow sometimes,” Covey said. “In the summer months, people don’t necessarily think of hunger as a top-of-mind issue. They think about it more in the fall and winter months. … There’s definitely an increased need for children, especially.”
According to Covey, the percentage of the population in Rockingham County and Harrisonburg that are “food insecure” — meaning they don’t know where their next meal will come from — is 7.8 percent. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank serves around 10,000 people in Rockingham County and Harrisonburg each month.
“This food drive is definitely helping to put food on their plates this summer,” she said.
Covey said the “Food for Fines” drive has provided 1,000 meals in past years.
The donated food items will go either to Blue Ridge Area Food Bank or directly to a local food pantry in the area of the library branch. For example, food donated to the Central Library branch in downtown Harrisonburg will benefi t the food pantry at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. The food collected from the Elkton Community Library will be delivered to Elkton Area United Services, the Village Library will take donations to Daily Bread Food Pantry in Broadway. The North River Library’s food donations will go to the Bridgewater Area Inter- Church Food Pantry.
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is looking for canned goods such as fruits, vegetables or beans, soup and canned tuna or chicken, as well as other items like rice, pasta, cereal and peanut butter. They ask for food that is high in protein, whole grain and low in fat, sodium and sugar.
Non- food items are also encouraged, such as toilet paper, toothbrushes, paper towels and soap. Diapers are also always needed.
“Folks don’t think about those things,” Evans said.
The libraries will not accept frozen or refrigerated foods or food in glass jars.
Those who have overdue book fees can use the food drive as a way to pay their dues. For each can, box or package of food donated, the library will take $ 1 off your fine.
“It’s both a way for folks to give back to the community and get a little off their bill at the same time,” Evans said.
However, MRL encourages everyone to donate, and not just library patrons with overdue fines.
“It really goes to tackle a persistent and difficult problem but one that if we all pull together, I think we can alleviate,” Evans said.
Barrels provided by Blue Ridge Area Food Bank will sit in each library for donations. Since the food drive started two days ago, Covey said two barrels have already been filled at MRL’s central branch.
“Massanutten Regional Library is a huge staple in the greater Harrisonburg community and the surrounding counties. We’re just really proud and in honor to be able to partner with them,” Covey said.
For a full list of needed items, visit brafb.org.
Marie McIntyre shops for food at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona to supply Staunton’s Bethel Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s food pantry. Donations from the Massanutten Regional Library branches will benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
Donations fill the aisles at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona.
Daily News-Record 5/18/18
During the summer months, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank sees an increasing need for food donations, as children must eat their meals at home instead of in the school cafeteria.
But with vacations and other summer activities that keep people busy, donations tend to fall off this time of year, which is why the Massanutten Regional Library system hosts an annual food drive to help fill the need.
The “Food for Fines” food drive began at all seven library branches on May 16 and runs until May 26. This is the 12th year MRL has held the food drive.
“One of the things we’d like to highlight is that people face food insecurity when school ends and kids no longer have access to the free or reduced meals,” said Michael Evans, the director of advancement at Massanutten Regional Library.
The libraries are preparing for their summer reading programs, and Evans said kids need to be properly nourished in order to focus on reading.
“For us, it’s very important that we understand for children, reading is important for all the learning they do, but we also know that not being hungry is important to be able to learn,” he said. “We’re promoting reading throughout the summer and children shouldn’t go hungry.”
Carrie Covey, the associate director of development at Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, said the food bank’s donations tend to drop off once school lets out.
“Leading into the summer months, attention to hunger can slow sometimes,” Covey said. “In the summer months, people don’t necessarily think of hunger as a top-of-mind issue. They think about it more in the fall and winter months. … There’s definitely an increased need for children, especially.”
According to Covey, the percentage of the population in Rockingham County and Harrisonburg that are “food insecure” — meaning they don’t know where their next meal will come from — is 7.8 percent. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank serves around 10,000 people in Rockingham County and Harrisonburg each month.
“This food drive is definitely helping to put food on their plates this summer,” she said.
Covey said the “Food for Fines” drive has provided 1,000 meals in past years.
The donated food items will go either to Blue Ridge Area Food Bank or directly to a local food pantry in the area of the library branch. For example, food donated to the Central Library branch in downtown Harrisonburg will benefi t the food pantry at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. The food collected from the Elkton Community Library will be delivered to Elkton Area United Services, the Village Library will take donations to Daily Bread Food Pantry in Broadway. The North River Library’s food donations will go to the Bridgewater Area Inter- Church Food Pantry.
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is looking for canned goods such as fruits, vegetables or beans, soup and canned tuna or chicken, as well as other items like rice, pasta, cereal and peanut butter. They ask for food that is high in protein, whole grain and low in fat, sodium and sugar.
Non- food items are also encouraged, such as toilet paper, toothbrushes, paper towels and soap. Diapers are also always needed.
“Folks don’t think about those things,” Evans said.
The libraries will not accept frozen or refrigerated foods or food in glass jars.
Those who have overdue book fees can use the food drive as a way to pay their dues. For each can, box or package of food donated, the library will take $ 1 off your fine.
“It’s both a way for folks to give back to the community and get a little off their bill at the same time,” Evans said.
However, MRL encourages everyone to donate, and not just library patrons with overdue fines.
“It really goes to tackle a persistent and difficult problem but one that if we all pull together, I think we can alleviate,” Evans said.
Barrels provided by Blue Ridge Area Food Bank will sit in each library for donations. Since the food drive started two days ago, Covey said two barrels have already been filled at MRL’s central branch.
“Massanutten Regional Library is a huge staple in the greater Harrisonburg community and the surrounding counties. We’re just really proud and in honor to be able to partner with them,” Covey said.
For a full list of needed items, visit brafb.org.
Marie McIntyre shops for food at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona to supply Staunton’s Bethel Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s food pantry. Donations from the Massanutten Regional Library branches will benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
Donations fill the aisles at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona.
