As food banks across West Virginia work to meet increased demand during the holiday season, the West Virginia Association of Counties (WVACo) is providing financial support to help ensure families, children, and seniors do not go without during a time when resources are often stretched thin.
WVACo President Greg Vandall has announced WVACo will provide direct financial support to West Virginia’s two largest food banks during the holiday season.
The decision comes amid recent federal government disruptions that strained food banks and charitable organizations nationwide, leaving many families facing shortfalls in food and basic necessities.
“In this time of year, no one should go hungry,” Vandall said. “Our Executive Committee felt strongly that WVACo should step forward and help meet these shortfalls here at home, in West Virginia. We’re proud to support the organizations doing the heavy lifting on the ground.”
WVACo will donate $5,000 each to Mountaineer Food Bank in Gassaway and Facing Hunger Food Bank in Huntington, strengthening their ability to serve vulnerable populations across the state.
The need is real across West Virginia – and it is growing.
According to data from Feeding America and the USDA, more than 16 million children nationwide are food insecure, meaning more than one in four American children does not consistently know where their next meal is coming from. Nearly 38 percent of those served by Feeding America are under the age of 18, and almost four out of five households receiving assistance include a child.
West Virginia’s aging population presents another urgent challenge.
Fifty-two of the state’s 55 counties have a higher-than-average senior population, placing increased pressure on local food assistance networks. When medical costs are considered, an estimated 78,800 seniors in West Virginia and neighboring Kentucky are living in poverty, making food access a daily concern rather than a seasonal one.
WVACo Past President and Lewis County Commissioner Agnes Queen urged courthouse officials and county employees across the state to take the message home.
“Every county has local needs and local food pantries,” Queen said. “We encourage our fellow officials and staff to consider donating locally as well. Small actions, multiplied across the state, can make a real difference.”
About The West Virginia Association of Counties:
The West Virginia Association of Counties (WVACO) is the unified voice and resource hub for the elected officials serving all 55 West Virginia counties. Representing assessors, circuit clerks, county clerks, county commissioners, prosecuting attorneys, sheriffs, and other constitutional officers, WVACO champions professionalism, preservation, and protection of county government to improve services and quality of life for all West Virginians.
From advocacy at the State Capitol to educational programs and inter-county collaboration, the association works tirelessly to strengthen local government and support those on the front lines of community service throughout the Mountain State.
For more information about WVACo and its initiatives, or to learn how to support local food banks in your community, visit http://www.wvaco.org.
