Project Manna l Kids Deli l Helping Hands l Camp Philadelphia l College Bound l Conference
 
Food Facts

FACT: More than 38 million Americans are food insecure, hungry or at risk of hunger.

FACT: One in four people in a soup kitchen line is a child.

FACT: An estimated 12.6 million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2006.

FACT: 12.8 million or approximately 17.4% of children in the U.S. live in poverty. The rate of poverty for children under 18 remains higher than those aged 18- to- 64 and for those aged 65 and over.

FACT: Research indicates that even mild under nutrition experienced by young children during critical periods of growth impacts the behavior of children, their school performance, and their overall cognitive development.

FACT: Emergency food assistance plays a vital role in the lives of low-income families.

FACT: Proper nutrition is vital to the growth and development of children, particularly for low-income children.

FACT: Over 17.5 million low-income children received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program.

FACT: 28.5% of client households served in non-metropolitan areas reported that their children often or sometimes did not eat enough during the past year because there was not enough money to buy food.

FACT: 28.7% of client households with seniors indicated that they have had to choose between food and medical care and 31 percent had to choose between food and paying for heat/utilities.


 
 
Programs - Project Manna

Project Manna

Project Manna is newly named but has been operating since 2000. Prior to 2006, the program had just been called the “food giveaway”. But a program that serves so many should have an appropriate name.   But even without a proper name, we were not hidden from the public. Word of mouth became the greatest form of advertising. What began as a nutritional cooking program sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension with 24 participants, quickly became known throughout the county. The 24 became 39 in the second month and has continue to grow every month since 2000.

image

Piedmont is a member of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Verona which is a part of America’s Second Harvest- the nation’s food bank network. America’s Second Harvest is the nation’s largest charitable hunger-relief organization. America’s Second Harvest establishes and develops partnerships with growers, processors, retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and restaurants and encourages them to “donate not dump”. The donated food and grocery products are moved to area where most needed.  

Second Harvest secures and distributes nearly 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually through the member agencies. Yearly, the food networks (i.e. food banks and local agencies) receive 486 million pounds from national product donors, 494

  

million pounds from US Government programs, 843 million pounds from local product donors and 198 million pounds from purchased from suppliers. 

The monthly distributions are done in two locations-- Gladys, VA (Campbell County) and Wirtz, VA (Franklin County). The Gladys location distributes food boxes during the fourth week of each month. The fourth week was chosen because the days between the 4th week and the 1st week of each month are usually the time when most people have the fewest food supplies. There are approximately 200 households per month which equates to about 450 unduplicated households throughout the year.

In June 2006, Piedmont became a member of the Southwest Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank in Salem. The food pantry site is located at the Chestnut Grove Missionary Baptist Church at Wirtz, VA. (Franklin County). This partnership was due to a concern that so many persons in the Rocky Mount and Martinsville areas had lost their jobs. Distribution day is the 3rd Saturday of the month. The Wirtz site is small but steadily growing.

Each month, the boxes are packaged with wholesome and nutritious food items. An average box may include – chicken parts, rice krispie cereal, macaroni and cheese, 2 cans green beans, 2 cans corn, 2 cans of applesauce, 1 can of juice, 2 cans of soup, and 1 box of crackers.

image

Just like America’s Second Harvest, we rely on donations. Every dollar received is used to purchase more nutritious food to serve our families. You can help.

 Application Here
 
Copyright © 2007 Piedmont Community Impact Organization, Inc. All Rights Reserved.