Warsaw/Richmond County Triad
A partnership between local law enforcement, seniors and senior service providers
Harvest: Compassion
Lance Barton, Director of the Northern Neck Food Bank, spoke to the Triad Council at our meeting on Tuesday June 25, 2013.
The more we know about the poeple we serve, the better we’re able to serve them.
In April, the Food Bank began colecting information for every family that reveives food. One of the most startling facts we found is that 32% of the households we serve are dealing with Type I or Type II diabetes. When you take into consideration the fact that the U.S. Department of Health believes one-third of those who have diabetes do not know it, that number goes from staggering to desparate.
The Nothern Neck Food Bank is fighting a battle on two fronts: food insecurity and access to nutritious food. While we continue to search for new sources, we also have to make sure the quality of our food reflects what we know about the people we serve.
We are fortunate to live in an area that has answered the question of quality. This year we received almost 200,000 pounds of fresh produce from farmers and gardeners in the counties we serve. It is an extraordinary outpouring of support from our community, especially when you consider that our goal this year was 50,000 pounds.
The community has entrusted us with the task of helping those in need, but they have also demonstrated the level of commitment they expect from us for this mission of compassion. They have made it clear that they believe those who are in need deserve more than just what is left over.
To learn more about the Northern Neck Food Bank and how you can help, visit their website at http://www.nnfb.org.
Warsaw/Richmond County Triad 