Dear Friend,
Fall is right around the corner! The new school year is starting, bringing excitement and new routines. Sadly, for many of our neighbors in the Central Rappahannock River Region, food insecurity and hunger are part of that routine. As the cost of food remains elevated, our neighbors continue to have a difficult time buying the nutritious food they need to stay nourished and healthy.
Some children will start receiving free meals when they go back to school, easing the challenge families face in providing extra meals at home. But children and families aren’t the only people experiencing hunger and hardship right now.
Thanks to you and your tremendous support, we can help provide the nutritious meals our neighbors need. I hope you enjoy this edition of Food Matters and are reminded of the vital difference your support means to families in our community.
Then, I hope you’ll consider giving to help even more children, families, and older neighbors. When every $1 helps provide 2 meals, you can change countless lives this fall and provide a strong start to the school year.
Thank you!,
Dan Maher
President and CEO
See How You Inspire Neighbors Like Duvrabska
When Duvrabska and her family left their home in Venezuela, they couldn’t have imagined the challenges they’d face once they arrived in the United States. They were completely starting over — learning a new language, securing safe shelter, and finding basic necessities like food.
But when she discovered her local food bank, Duvrabska found food, hope, and the foundation her family needed to build their new life.
“For people like me arriving in a new country, knowing very few individuals, this is like a second chance,” Duvrabska says. “They were an important part of my new life here, and they helped me right away.”
As a mother, Duvrabska’s greatest concern was ensuring her children wouldn’t go hungry. That’s why she was so grateful for the consistent access to nutritious food she received from her local food bank.
“They helped me with food for my children, for myself, and now I’m able to help others — this makes me feel so proud,” she says.
Duvrabska never forgot that kindness. And seeing the volunteers work tirelessly to serve families like hers was inspiring. Today, she and her daughter volunteer side by side at the same food bank, assisting neighbors with the welcoming compassion they once received.
“We are helping people get back on track. Helping the community is the least we can do after everything they’ve done for us; we have an opportunity to pay it forward.”
“We all go through hard times,” she says. “But together, we lift each other up.”
Duvrabska doesn’t take your support for granted. Thank you for helping her family when times got tough — and for inspiring her to pay your kindness forward!
Duvrabska’s story is representative of the people we serve.
You
and Loretta Know When It’s Time to Step Up
Every day, Loretta embodies what it means to have a giving spirit. As a regular cook and caretaker at her local food pantry, she’s known for serving up heaping helpings of food — and compassion — to local neighbors in need.
“They always tell me, ‘You’ve got to portion things out,’ but I have a heavy hand,” Loretta laughs. “I want to make sure they’re good, not just with food but with everything. It’s about letting them know someone cares.”
For nearly two decades, Loretta has been turning meals into moments of comfort. She’s seen firsthand how a nourishing meal can warm the heart, ease the mind, and heal the soul.
“Food is a comfort,” she says. “You could be going through something, and having your favorite food can make you feel better. I think it’s the same for a lot of people who come here.”
Loretta understands the importance of keeping vital resources like the food pantry available for neighbors facing hunger … especially as someone who’s been in their shoes.
“I’ve been through hard times myself,” she says. “Some of the people who come here talk to me about their problems, and I can relate to them. It makes me proud to know I’m able to uplift them and make them feel better.”
Like Loretta, you have such a giving heart! Thank you for making a lasting difference in our community.
Loretta’s story is representative of the people we serve.
As you know, children need a steady, daily source of vitamins and nutrients. Nutritious meals give them the fuel they need to learn, grow, focus in school, and stay healthy. With your support, kids throughout the Central Rappahannock River Region have access to the meals and snacks that provide that fuel — and lead them toward brighter futures.
Elijah
“When I’m hungry, I get tired, or I’ll get distracted. But when I’m not, I’m on-task, and I can focus.” Elijah’s family picks up summer meals near
their home, and Elijah eats free breakfast and lunch at school. Having consistent meals enables him to focus not only on his schoolwork but on his passion — robotics. “If
I’m full, I’m ready for whatever happens,” he says.
Ami
“My favorite food is every food,” Ami says. “Except onions. And celery.” She visits a summer meals site for lunch during the week and is already excited to learn about
science when she goes back to school. When asked why food is important, she answers with scientific confidence: “Food is important because it has some very good qualities and
vitamins.”
Makaila
Makaila loves reading and mac and cheese — and her summer has been filled with both. She and her sister visit a summer meals site almost every day for lunch. “The food is good,
and it’s nice here,” Makaila says. “Nothing is better than books, reading, and ice cream … except mac and cheese!”
For Adriana — a mother, wife, and daughter — family has always been the center of her universe. The strong bond she shares with her family keeps her optimistic through life’s unexpected challenges.
“Family is everything to us,” Adriana says. “They’re all so important.”
When her husband suffered an injury that left him unable to work, it was up to Adriana to provide for their family. She supported their household for years … until her own health began to decline.
Now on disability, Adriana can prioritize her health and search for another job. But with both providers out of work, they realized it was time to visit their local food pantry for support.
“[Fresh produce] is the kind of thing that can be quite pricey at the grocery store,” Adriana says. That’s why she loves having access to fruits and veggies at the food pantry. “It allows me to save that money so I can spend it on nonprocessed food at the store, like chicken.”
The pantry’s fresh produce has transformed how she keeps her family nourished during this difficult time. “If you don’t have your health, you have nothing. As the ‘project manager’ of our family, it is imperative for me to try to stay healthy,” she says.
Yet, even when faced with the challenges of food insecurity, Adriana holds close a lesson that her grandma taught her: “You fall down, you get back up, and you push forward.”
With her loving family by her side — and the generosity of friends like you — Adriana can continue to do just that!
Adriana’s story is representative of the people we serve.
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