In the New River Valley, a four county region in southwest Virginia, a multi-sector team has formed around interests of increased food access, improved healthy food choices, and exploring collective infrastructure models that could improve the food available and distributed through food pantries, food kitchens, and food banks across the planning district. This effort was created by simple conversations of folks working in this area and has increased through mutual relationships, engagement, and connections.
The group formed The New River Valley Food Access Network with an overall vision and purpose of relieving hunger in the NRV. Many more partners, including, local food pantries, banks, kitchens, local housing partners, elderly care facilities, youth backpack programs, community gardens, and faith based initiatives working in the area of food access have joined these efforts and are contributing to the info gathering and sharing.