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'Katrina effect' could hurt Virginia food banks receive boost in community, corporate donations but worry about their supplies this winter Date published: 9/30/2005
By NATASHA ALTAMIRANO Hurricane-relief efforts nearly depleted supplies at area food banks, but thanks to community response, agencies are restocking their shelves. "This place was empty--there was no food," said Oya Oliver, executive director of the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank. "As soon as word got out, our local community responded. We're really grateful to them." The food bank assists people in Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George counties and the city of Fredericksburg. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network, which serves Charlottesville and the Shenandoah Valley, saw a similar decline in food and monetary donations during the first three weeks of September compared with the same time last year. "We're afraid what we call the 'Katrina effect' might affect us and a lot of other nonprofits and food banks," said Mark Hackley, spokesman for the Blue Ridge food bank. "I think the long-term effects are going to hurt the local people in Virginia, because there are only so many resources, and it leaves you with an extra need." Balancing national and local demands for food is a concern, said Lynn Brantley, president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington. "We have to keep our everyday operation going here--there's poverty here every day," Brantley said. "Meeting that need is our mission, so we have to remain faithful to that." The three food banks are affiliated with America's Second Harvest, a national food-bank network. Giant Food Inc. this week mailed out checks totaling $200,000 to nine food banks in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Fredericksburg food bank received about $4,000, the Blue Ridge food bank received about $9,700 and the Washington food bank received about $112,000, according to Giant spokesman Jamie Miller. The money was raised during the grocery-store chain's Check Out Hunger campaign from July 10 to Aug. 31. Still, food-bank officials stressed the need for ongoing donations. "This place is full now, but we can put out 3,000 to 4,000 pounds by the end of the day," Oliver said, waving toward the shelves of food in the Alum Spring Road warehouse. "That could be depleted. It's an endless job--you constantly have to restock."
Date published: 9/30/2005
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