BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK INC

The food bank's nutrition programs focus on vulnerable populations, including rural neighbors, children, and seniors, and over 1.55 million pounds of food were acquired and distributed through these programs. Close to 5,000 children and their families were fed each month on average through several programs, including: the family backpack program which meets the needs of hungry children and their families by providing the foundation of family meals for weekends and extended breaks when children cannot access school-based programs; good food school markets partner with schools to provide to teens distributions, monthly and at school breaks, of nutrient-rich foods including fresh produce, at high school based pantries; kids cafe provides nutritious snacks and meals for at-risk children in after school programs; summer kid packs and summer feeding programs serve nourishing meals and snacks and provide bags of shelf-stable food at neighborhood recreation and community centers and churches when school is not in session. The senior nutrition programs delivered boxes of food monthly to 2,900 homebound and low-income seniors as well as individuals with special needs. The food pharmacy program supplies in-clinic food pantries in service of clinician referred patients with chronic health conditions and food insecurity with foods that meet their nutritional needs. The super pantry program is a six-week course managed by the virginia cooperative extension which instructs low-income families in food preparation, basic budgeting, food safety and other life skills.