Hunger Awareness Week in Goochland April 22-28, 2018 Each year Goochland-area food pantries (listed below) feed more than 1800 Goochland individuals experiencing food-insecurity. Rachel is someone who struggles to make sure her family has food on the table every day. Rachel works two-part time jobs but still struggles to pay rent, buy medications for her disabled son, and purchase car insurance each month.  Rachel depends on donated pantry food to make sure her family will not be hungry between paychecks. Rachel, and families like hers, is why Goochland food pantries work together every spring to organize a community-wide food drive. Rachel lives in western Goochland which The Federation of Virginia Food Banks considers to be a “food desert” — an area where populations live more than 10 miles from a supermarket or large grocery store if in a rural area (Ver Ploeg et al. 2012). The Goochland County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed April 22, 2018 – April 28, 2018 as “Hunger Awareness Week” in Goochland.  They urge all citizens to actively participate in “Hunger Hurts. Goochland Gathers.” by donating food to Goochland food pantries.  The goal for this year’s food drive is to collect 30,000 pounds of food to ensure enough stock to last through the summer. “Unfortunately, food insecurity for many in Goochland continues throughout the year,” stated Sally Graham, executive director of GoochlandCares (formerly Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services). “The Goochland food pantries are on the frontlines fighting hunger in Goochland every day. We need the community’s help to fill empty shelves to provide food for our neighbors in need like Rachel.” Everyone at any age can easily participate in “Hunger Hurts. Goochland Gathers.” through your family, neighborhood, church, civic group, or business. Urge your church or neighborhood leaders to organize a food drive. There will be collection boxes at key locations throughout the county including Essex Bank, EZ Ship, and Goochland Family YMCA. Food Drive Bags provided by Publix. The most needed items are: Canned Items Canned meat: pork, chicken, beef, tuna Beans Vegetables Fruits and fruit cocktail Soup Peanut Butter Dry Goods & Cooking Staples Spaghetti & Pasta Beans Rice Flour Baking mix Cereal and Oatmeal Toilet Paper For information about donations and how you can be involved, please contact your nearest Food Pantry: GoochlandCares – Food Pantry 2999 River Road West Goochland, VA 23063 Terry Lynn Ebright 804-556-6260 tebright@GoochlandCares.org Friday, April 27   9am – 3pm Saturday, April 28   10am – 2pm Or call for appt. to drop off. Victory Christian Church – Harvest Food Pantry 2850 Maidens Road Goochland, VA 23063 804-556-5700 Sunday, April 15   9am – 1pm Tuesday, April 17   3:30pm – 7pm Sunday, April 22   9am – 1pm Tuesday, April 24   3:30 – 7pm St. Matthews Church – Neighbors Food Pantry 1706 St. Matthews Lane Richmond, VA 23233 804-784-3176 Perkins Baptist Church 3146 Hadensville-Fife Road Goochland, VA 23063 804-338-0505