Blue Ridge Area Food Bank has received 80,000 pounds of chicken from Perdue Farms to help fill the food gap

BRFD’s donation is part of an 800,000 pound donation to food banks along the east coast.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB) has received 80,000 pounds of chicken as part of Perdue Farms’ “Fill the Food Gap” initiative. The new program is designed to address the growing crisis of food insecurity both in Virginia and nationwide. The effort begins with an immediate donation of 800,000 pounds of nutritious protein to food banks along the east coast, including in Virginia.

America’s food banks, including the seven located in Virginia, are facing unprecedented strain, with many reporting record demand and reduced resources. According to Feeding America, 1 in 9 people in the Blue Ridge area are food insecure. That totals more than 182,000 individuals.

“The need for food assistance is higher than ever, affecting families, seniors, and working people across the Blue Ridge,” said Blue Ridge Area Food Bank CEO Kari Diener in a news release. Our vision is simple: nourishing food and good health for everyone, every day.”

The chicken provided to the BRAFB will be distributed through its network of local pantries, soup kitchens, and community programs that serve central and western Virtinia.

Since 2000, Perdue has delivered the equivalent of 89 million meals in its efforts to address food insecurity. The donations are made throughout the year to adapt to evolving short-term and long-term needs identified by its food bank partners.

“The urgency to address food insecurity has only grown this year,” said Todd Tillemans, Chief Commercial Officer at Perdue Farms. “With so many families relying on food banks that are stretched thinner than ever, we knew we had to act. Fill the Food Gap is about mobilizing Perdue’s resources and people to provide immediate relief in the communities where we operate and shine a light on a challenge too big to ignore.”

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank serves 25 counties and 8 cities through distribution centers in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Winchester, and its headquarters in Verona. Each month, the Food Bank supports an average of 171,200 guest visits with assistance from 400 community partners including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and program sites