Gassaway / West Virginia / United States
Mountaineer Food Bank, a private, non-profit organization, was founded in 1981 as the result of the efforts of an anti-hunger coalition. These caring people were operating feeding programs in West Virginia, and they were looking for ways to feed more people with their funds. Since 1981 Mountaineer Food Bank has been a leader in the fight to alleviate hunger in West Virginia. We receive donations of foods and other products from national companies throughout the United States. Much of this perfectly wholesome food is manufactured in this country cannot be sold. Reasons include overproduction, mislabeling and minor damage. The Food Bank taps into these otherwise wasted resources. Companies, manufacturers, wholesalers, farmers, retailers and distributors located in West Virginia donate food, clothing and personal care items. These resources combined with local food drives help Mountaineer Food Bank deliver more than 5.6 million pounds each year to 460 feeding programs in the 48 counties we serve. Americas Second Harvest is a national organization committed to feeding hungry people. Being one of over 180 certified affiliate members of the Second Harvest network Mountaineer Food Bank is linked to national donors of foods and other products. Annually the Food Bank receives product donations from an average of 40 different national donors and an average of 12 different local donors within West Virginia. These donations are inventoried, stored and distributed to member agencies in 48 counties of West Virginia who in turn feed needy people. The member agencies are shelters, churches, soup kitchens, day cares and food pantries. Other sources providing foods and other products are Feed the Children, Operation Blessing, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Hunters Helping the Hungry. The state contracts Food Bank to handle the distribution of foods provided through the 1988 Hunger Act known as the Soup Kitchen/Food Bank Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program. The Food Bank also receives food donations from several annual food drives. The combination of all these different sources furnishes a variety for the member agencies to choose from. You can join Mountaineer Food Bank in our fight to alleviate hunger in West Virginia. Financial contributions, along with special events, grants and cost sharing programs are all essential to maintain daily operations of the Food Bank. With the buying power of more than 460 feeding programs, canned food drives, and lots of hard work by volunteers we can take your dollar farther. To find out more about how you can help Mountaineer Food Bank click here. Due to the nature and types of products that are donated, a high standard has to be maintained in order for the donors to feel confident that the Food Bank is the place to handle the product. Adequate dry storage space as well as freezers and coolers are needed to accommodate the variety of foods donated.
