SWVA Second Harvest Food Bank helps fill Summer food need for children

By: Meagan Farley | WSLS
Published: June 18, 2010

SALEM - The Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank covers an area where 76,000 children are eligible for free or reduced lunches at school. "What people don't think about is in the summertime when those 76,000 children are out of school they are out of an adequate nutritious food supply," said Pamela Irvine, CEO of Second Harvest.

The shelves of the food bank are stocked with juice, snacks and enough food to feed about four thousand of those children. 31 food bank sites in southwest Virginia will open their doors to hungry children. "We think people are more sensitive and tuned in to Americans having trouble putting adequate nutritious food on the table," said Irvine.

The program sets up shop in school districts with 50 percent or more children below poverty level. Irvine says with the economy the way it is, the need for food is on the rise. "We've seen a 60 percent increase in the number of individuals depending on emergency food supplies for their families since 2006."

Pamela and her staff are in the middle of reviewing a four year plan to figure out just how to keep up with the growing need. "We think we do a good job but we can do better."