The Mountaineer Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America network, needs donations in the aftermath of storms that struck West Virginia. (Mountaineer Food Bank)
The storms and resulting power outages that struck West Virginia ruined food supplies. Emergency foodbanks are under pressure to keep up with the demand. Chad Morrison of the Mountaineer Food Bank says, “The next few months will be hard because many of the agencies gave out all of their food with more people coming.”
Even before the storms hit nearly 15 percent of West Virginia’s population was hungry or “food insecure.” A recent study by Feeding America showed that child hunger in the state was even higher at 21 percent. The storms have placed extra pressure on the food safety net program that exists to combat hunger in West Virginia.
Donations are starting to coming in from Feeding America, Kellogg and Walmart. The governor’s office is also hosting a statewide food drive. A lot more help is needed though. A summer feeding program for children in Jefferson County lost its food supply in the storms. The U.S. govt has not responded to a request to replace the lost food, over a week since a plea was issued.
You can donate to the Mountaineer Food Bank at their web site.
Author William Lambers 