Each year Goochland-area food pantries feed more than 2000 Goochland individuals experiencing food-insecurity. Bob is someone who struggles to make sure his family has food on the table every day. He is home with a disability that prevents him from working while his wife works two-part time jobs. They still struggle to pay rent, buy his medications, provide food for their three young children, and purchase car insurance each month.  They depend on donated pantry food to make sure they will not be hungry between paychecks. Bob, and families like his, is why Goochland food pantries work together every spring to organize a community-wide food drive. Bob and his family 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 21, 2019 – April 27, 2019 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 drive is to collect 30,000 pounds of food to ensure enough stock to last through the summer. “The Goochland food pantries are on the frontlines fighting hunger by providing food for nearly 400 Goochland families every week,” stated Sally Graham, executive director of GoochlandCares. “We need the community’s help to fill empty shelves throughout the year for our neighbors in need like Bob and his wife to have access to food.” Everyone at any age can easily participate in “Hunger Hurts. Goochland Gathers.” through family, neighborhood, church, civic group, or business. Urge your church or neighborhood leaders to organize a food drive. There will be collection boxes to drop off food at key locations throughout the county including Goochland County Farm Bureau, Essex Bank, EZ Ship, and Goochland Family YMCA. Or you can request bags to fill from GoochlandCares at 804 556 0201. Most needed items include: Canned Items                                                 Dry Goods & Cooking Staples Canned meat: pork, chicken, beef, tuna         Spaghetti & Pasta Beans                                                                     Beans Vegetables                                                            Rice Fruits and fruit cocktail                                    Crackers Soup                                                                      Toilet Paper Peanut Butter                                                      Cereal & Oatmeal CLICK HERE for complete list. CLICK HERE for list of Goochland food pantries.