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United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd (UWMRF) and local business leaders joined together to issue a "Food Chain Challenge" Monday to support Montgomery County Emergency's Assistance Program's food pantry, a crucial source of local support to families in crisis that is having a crisis of its own.
"There were shared concerns in the community that supplies were critically low," said UWMRF Executive Director Kymn Davidson-Hamley, "With fuel prices higher than last year, and service provision already higher, many local residents in critical situations will be visiting MCEAP's food pantry. It simply has to be stocked. Too many vulnerable people - the very young, the very old, the ill, those in crisis - will be needing assistance." From January 2008 through September 30, 2008 MCEAP served 1,275 local families - an increase of more than 400 families from the same time period in 2007. The average number of people in a family that MCEAP serves is five. "Participating in the Food Chain Challenge is just one more way a person can choose to LIVE UNITED this year," Davidson-Hamley said. "When we kicked off our campaign last month we asked people to 'Give, Advocate, Volunteer' – to do something to contribute to the health of our local community. This Food chain Challenge is one more way local residents can 'LIVE UNITED.'" The Food Chain Challenge will take place from October 6 through October 17. As a business commits to the challenge, that business issues a challenge to another business to participate. "We hope to get MCEAP's food pantry stocked for winter," Davidson-Hamley said. Businesses and organizations already committed to participating include: L.L. Brown Insurance Agency, Inc., Coffee Depot, SR Clarke, Inc., VA Tech Corporate Research Center Office, SunGard Workflow Solutions, United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd office; Christiansburg Parks & Recreation, First Bank & Trust Company, Corning, Mailtrust, Ewing Cabinet, BB&T, Blacksburg Country Club, Frank Spicer & Cox, Sands, Anderson Marks & Miller; Rainbow Riders Childcare Center, Lucas Appraisal, Montgomery County Parks & Recreation, Carper Insurance, Shultz-Creehan Holdings, Inc., the Town of Blacksburg, Montgomery County, VA Tech Transportation Institute; and Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP. Buildings in the VA Tech Corporate Research Center are challenging each other to fill large boxes in their lobbies. University Mall, Downtown Blacksburg Merchants, and the downtown Christiansburg are merchants are helping spread the word to businesses. The Food Chain Challenge team includes United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd; Christy Brown, L.L. Brown Insurance Agency, Inc.; Alec Siegel, SR Clarke, Inc.; Anita Lilly, SunGard Workflow Solutions, Inc.; Shirley Gillespie, Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center; and Tacy Newell from the Coffee Depot. Davidson-Hamley said Christy Brown and Alec Siegel, the volunteer leaders of the effort, first approached UWMRF about launching such a business effort to assist MCEAP, as they had heard about the food pantry's depleted state and were very concerned. "These people realized the dire situation facing MCEAP and chose to give, advocate AND volunteer," Davidson-Hamley said. "A perfect example of living united."
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