Fighting Food Insecurity During Trying Times
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, Rockbridge NAACP has made cash donations to 50 Ways Rockbridge, the Rockbridge Area YMCA, the Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA), the Rockbridge Area Transportation System (RATS) and the Gospel Way Food Pantry. While glad to assist other local organizations in their relief efforts, the NAACP’s local chapter has been looking for a way to put money directly in the hands of people who may need help buying food. To that end, the Rockbridge NAACP Grocery Card Initiative was created to distribute $3,000 worth of gift cards to households through area food banks. The cards are each worth $25 and can be used to make purchases at Kroger, Food Lion or Walmart.
On Monday, August 24th, members of the Rockbridge NAACP’s Donation Committee and other volunteers met at the RARA food bank to make a distribution of grocery gift cards to 26 families who were picking up meals.
The NAACP will next be handing out grocery store gift cards at the Glasgow/Natural Bridge food pantry on Saturday, August 29, 2020 from 9:00 to 11am and at Gospel Way Church of God in Christ in Lexington on Saturday, September 22, 2020 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Distributions will continue until the Rockbridge NAACP’s original $3,000 gift card fund — and any additional contributions to the initiative — run out.
Money for the gift card initiative comes from the Rockbridge NAACP’s general fund and a small donation from Kroger in Lexington, but the need is greater than the funds. If you are interested in donating to the Rockbridge NAACP’s grocery gift card initiative, please contact Donation Committee Chair (and 6th District Congressional Candidate!) Nick Betts at nabetts17@gmail.com.
From (l to r) Rockbridge NAACP members: Mirabai McLeod, Nick Betts, John Siegfried, Sara Cunningham, Marquita Dunn and Kathy Fox.
*Photos courtesy Jonathan Schwab and John Driscoll