


Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
Have you ever gone to bed hungry?
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Have you ever had to worry about how you or your family would afford your next meals? 1 in 10 people in the Blue Ridge area suffer from food insecurity. As a quiet crisis, the majority of these individuals suffer in silence.
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The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB) is the second nonprofit that you and I will be talking and learning about! BRAFB originally began in 1981 as a “rural experiment in food banking.” Over the past few decades, the organization has grown incredibly. With a mission “to improve food security through equitable access to good nutrition and the resources that support health and well-being,” BRAFB has become the largest hunger-relief organization in central and western Virginia.
My interest in BRAFB began during my Nonprofit Communications class, as we were able to travel and visit their Verona location. During this visit, my classmates and I toured the warehouse, speaking with multiple members of the organizations. Through talking with workers and volunteers, it was clear how important the mission of the organization was to each individual.
Their mission: To improve food security through equitable access to good nutrition and the resources that support health and well-being.
The Bridgewater College Food Drive
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As an intern for Professor Erickson of the Communications department at Bridgewater College, I have collaborated with students and faculty and created content for digital and print media in an effort to promote the BC Food Drive. This food drive is led by Professor Erickson, the Office of Community Engagement, and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), in partnership with Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
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Students, faculty, and staff have been asked to team up, collect needed items, and donate them by dropping them off at certain locations around the Bridgewater College campus.
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In an effort to motivate students at BC to participate in the food drive, Professor Burzomato enlisted students in his Food Politics class to create engaging and informational videos to post on several social media platforms. The video to the right is an example of one!
Most-needed items for food drives include:
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Non-perishable food items (Canned fruits, vegetables, tuna, soup and pasta sauce, as well as nut butters, cereal, pasta, rice and oatmeal)
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Non-food essential items (Toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, feminine hygiene products, baby food, and diapers)
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Cara Hopson
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I had the opportunity to speak with Cara Hopson, the Managing Director of Development at Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Not only was she incredibly knowledgeable, but she was also clearly passionate about helping people and making a difference.
In her role, she connects directly to donors. She emphasized the importance of creating relationships with donors and the BRAFB through showing them what their money goes towards and their positive impacts. Hopson reiterated that without their donors, as well as their volunteers, BRAFB would shrink in size.
Before her role at BRAFB, Hopson worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters, a smaller nonprofit in the Harrisonburg area. While she loved her time there, she noted that the difference in size greatly changed how she navigated her role. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, she wore “many hats,” a saying that is incredibly common within nonprofit workers. This means that while her title may have been one thing, she often had several responsibilities that would not necessarily be under her title. She noted that this was great practice for those in early stages of their careers, as she was able to gain experience in design.
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When talking about working with other organizations, such as schools or businesses, Hopson highlighted their importance. Despite only 3% of BRAFB’s food coming from food drives, they allow for countless opportunities.
“We especially love students doing food drives or being a part of food bank initiatives. Beyond bringing in food, it raises awareness around the issue and it helps to alleviate stigma,” Hopson explained.
Food insecurity is an issue throughout the world, and in the United States of America, it impacts people from all walks of life. In many cases, people are able to afford and have access to food for three out of four weeks of the month. However, with bills and the increasing costs of living, many struggle with the final week of the month. BRAFB gives individuals the opportunity to not worry about this last month, and instead use the organization as a resource. With the help of food drives, the stigma surrounding asking for help is greatly reduced.
The Big Picture
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Food insecurity is not going anywhere. BRAFB has the highest number of guests it has had since pre-COVID19 pandemic, with nearly 150,000 guests seeking assistance each month. The organization utilizes donors, volunteers, advocates, and pantry partners to spread awareness and continue to succeed in their mission. With warehouses in Verona, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Winchester, BRAFB has provided over 27 million meals. BRAFB also provides information and resources on how to apply for aid such as EBT or food stamps, another often stigmatized yet incredibly helpful support.
Though food insecurity is not something that everyone faces, BRAFB and its mission help everyone in the communities. Having reliable access to food reduces barriers and allows for doors to open and life to improve.
Each member of this organization plays an integral role. Through my conversation with Hopson, I was able to better understand her role and responsibilities and that of others. Without the connections she creates and maintains with donors, BRAFB would not be where it is today.
