By Taylor Boyd
Fears that the Patrick County Food Bank might be forced to close have been put on hold after the Patrick County Board of Supervisors approved a $30,000 donation in December.
In addition, Rhonda Pruitt, executive director of the food bank, said the board also approved releasing the remaining $5,000 donation allocated in the fiscal year 2025 budget.
The town of Stuart also donated $4,000 to the nonprofit organization in November.
“That has put us in a little different ballgame for a while, so we’re pretty good for a while,” Pruitt said.
Pruitt estimates the food bank will remain fully operational through June, when she plans to re-evaluate its financial situation.
“Of course, I want people to keep giving so we can continue past that (date),” she said.
Pruitt said the majority of funds are used to buy food to give to those in need.
“September, October, and November of last year, we spent $23,000 on food. A lot of people think that because Feeding America is a non-profit, it’s free. It’s not free. We pay for food,” she said.
Funds are also used to pay for electricity, phone, and water bills at the agency’s Stuart-based building.
“We have insurance just like everybody else does, so it is a lot,” Pruitt said, adding that none of the funds are used “to pay any of us.” Workers volunteer their time and services.
Pruitt believes the need for the Food Bank’s services and its clientele list will grow as food prices continue to increase.
“I don’t see that the cost of food is going to go down. We haven’t seen anything go down in a very long time. I just don’t see it going down anytime soon. For us to be able to provide for the community members, we still have to spend that money,” she said.
While the Food Bank was able to provide turkeys in its Thanksgiving boxes due to a donation from the Stuart Rotary Club, Pruitt said the group only does special boxes for the two major holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“The Girl Scouts sometimes bring Valentine’s that go in the boxes, and we sometimes have Junior Beta kids that will bring a little card that goes in the boxes, but we do not do special boxes for like Valentine’s Day, or Mother’s Day, or anything like that,” she said.
Pruitt plans to ask the county and town for additional funding in the upcoming fiscal year.
“We have to continue to ask because they may be our saving grace again next year. Who knows,” she said.
Those wishing to donate to the organization can mail a check to P.O. Box 1304, Stuart, VA, 24171. To donate food, contact the food bank at (276) 806-4152, or email PatrickCountyFoodBank@gmail.com to schedule a time to drop the donation off or arrange for pick up by food bank volunteers.
Those interested in volunteering should contact Pruitt at (276) 694-6300.
For more information, visit Facebook.com/PatrickCoFoodBank.
