A new tax credit will benefit Virginia’s farmers and the food banks to which they donate, according to a release from the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, and the director of the Patrick County Community Food Bank.
“I would hope this will encourage them to give to the food bank, especially when they have excess,” Joni Hunt, director of the local food bank, said of the Food Crops Donation Tax Credit.
Approved by the General Assembly last year, the credit allows Virginia farmers who donate edible food crops to a nonprofit food bank to receive up to a 30 percent tax credit for their donation.
“During this time of year, we have a couple” of farmers to donate to the food bank, Hunt said.
As the growing season gets in full swing, she said she has “several farmers to call me on the spur of the moment and ask” if there is a surplus, she said, and added farmers generally donate to the food bank through the fall.
Officials are hopeful the tax credit will help fill the food bank’s need for additional fresh produce while helping farmers get rid of seconds or thirds they can’t sell to retailers.
The credit took effect Jan. 1, 2016, and will last through 2021.
Approved growers are entitled to a tax credit of up to 30 percent of the fair market value of a donation, not to exceed $5,000.
“It’s always nice to be able to get fresh food,” Hunt said, and added the food bank gives boxes to between 250 and 300 families per month.
In addition to donations from farmers, Hunt said the majority of the food distributed is through a program called Feeding America, which provides USDA food stuffs to the food bank, Hunt said.
To supplement that food, the agency spends between $2,200 and $3,000 each month at a local grocery store, Hunt said, and added donations from local businesses, as well as individuals and churches pay for the supplemental items. The food bank also receives “a small grant from the county,” Hunt said.
Boxes are packaged with staples, but “we try to give a variety,” Hunt said. “We do try to give items that are nutritious and will fill you up,” such as beans, rice, pasta and the like. Juices, cereal and pasta sauces may also be included in food boxes, she said.
“We would like to supplement more canned meat, but it’s so expensive, we can’t do that,” Hunt said , and added the goal is to ensure those receiving food boxes are able to get at least two or three meals per box.
In the 10 years Hunt has been working at the food bank, “we’ve been blessed. People have been very generous and we really do appreciate it,” she said.
Currently, volunteers are needed at the food bank, she said.
“We’re only at the food bank three days per month; the second Monday, we need” men to help with the heavy duties, Hunt said, and added those work hours are only from 8:30 a.m. until noon.
On the second Wednesday of the month, “we pack boxes, from 8:45 to 10:30 a.m.,” she said, and added anyone can help with packaging duty. “We’re very organized, and usually can get 300 boxes packed in about 45 minutes,” she said.
The third Wednesday of the month is distribution day, according to Hunt, who said volunteers generally man the food bank in both the morning and the afternoon.
Strong backs are needed to help distribute food boxes and load them in participants’ vehicles, and other volunteers are needed to work in the office, helping to get paper work signed and participants checked in, Hunt said.
To volunteer, contact the food bank.
Growers who want to participate in the 2017 tax credit program may submit a Virginia Department of Taxation Food Crop Donation Tax Credit application by Feb. 1, 2018. The form FCD-1 is available on the department’s website: tax.virginia.gov.
