Growing up in rural Arkansas, Sonya Ebright's family had times when ends just wouldn't meet. Their small town didn't have a food bank, but the generous owner of a local grocery store did all he could to make sure his neighbors had enough to eat. Sonya remembers that generosity well, and she is carrying it forward with regular donations to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank serves 25 counties and 8 cities in Virginia. In partnership with 400 local community partners – food pantries, senior centers, health clinics and shelters – they offer food support to over 123,000 people each month. Eighty percent of the Food Bank's budget is privately funded by donors like Sonya, making it a true community project.
Mimi Forbes, Director of the Rappahannock Food Pantry, says the pantry is “a real community effort because we serve people who really need help, we have volunteers who are comfortable people that come in to help, and we have very wealthy people who support us financially.”
Cara Colbert Hopson, Director of Development for the Food Bank, admits that the work is not easy. It takes many people giving generously of their time and money, she says, but “I pinch myself every day that I get to do work that supports our community and I get to see people giving so generously of their time, treasure, and gifts.”
Wind River is honored to share these stories of inspiring harmony from the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, one of our charity partners. The need for donations is ongoing; you can join us in supporting BRAFB here: https://www.brafb.org.
