The COVID-19 pandemic has led to reduced work hours or complete unemployment for many Fluvanna residents as the businesses they work for either changed their mode of operation or closed altogether by order of the governor.
An astonishing 46,885 Virginians applied for unemployment benefits during the week of March 21, 2020, according to the US Department of Labor – nearly 20 times the average weekly number of applications.
Many of these newly unemployed or underemployed community members may find themselves coping with the stark realities of food insecurity. Fortunately, local non-profits and government agencies, along with Fluvanna County Public Schools, are working to ensure that no Fluvanna resident goes hungry. Here is a list:
FCSS and MACAA FOOD BANK
CALL (434) 842-2521
Bring Photo ID to prove Fluvanna residence
8878 James Madison Highway
(behind the old Carysbrook High School)
Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Fluvanna Christian Service Society and MACAA Food Bank is waiving all income requirementsand will provide a food box with enough food to last for two weeks, according to the size of your family. Families can access food from this location once each month.
BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK MOBILE LOCATIONS
The Columbia Area Mobile Food Pantry is available the third Wednesday of each month from 10 to 11 a.m. at Columbia Baptist Church, located at 116 Rivanna Street, Columbia, VA. Call 434.825.1447 for more information. Clients can sign up and receive an ID card on location, and they will receive food that day. This service also has waived income requirements.
The Palmyra Area Mobile Food Pantry is available the last Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Effort Baptist Church, located at 7820 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Palmyra, VA. Call 434.589.8962 for more information. Clients can sign up and receive an ID card on location, and they will receive food that day. This service also has waived income requirements.
The Troy Area Mobile Food Pantry is located at Beaver Dam Baptist Church, 1794 Richmond Road, Troy, VA. Call 434.295.0277 for more information; the date is listed on the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Website as simply Wednesday, 9 to 11 a.m., this could be incorrect, so you will need to call to find out when this service is provided. This service also has waived income requirements.
FLUVANNA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
“Grab and Go,” “Backpack,” and “Food4U” Programs
These programs provide food assistance for Fluvanna County Public School students. The next distribution date is set for April 14, as meals will not be given out during the week originally scheduled for spring break (April 6-10.)
FCPS “Grab and Go” meals provide 5 breakfast meals and 5 lunch meals for each student age 18 and under. These meals may be picked up on designated dates from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each adult picking up a meal must be accompanied by a child. Meals are distributed from the Fluvanna County High School. Visit fluco.org/covid-19 for more information and future distribution scheduling, or email Gwen Jones, Supervisor for Food Services at gjones@apps.fluco.org or Don Stribling, Executive Director for Human Resources, Operations and Student Services at dstribling@apps.fluco.org
The “Backpack” program and the “Food4U” program will also be distributed at the same dates, times, and location as the “Grab and Go” program. The Backpack program provides food for elementary school children for the weekend; the Food4U program provides weekend food for middle and high school aged students. These programs have waived the previous requirement that students qualify for free or reduced lunch to participate. People with questions about these two programs can call Gary Greenwood at (434) 989-5942.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
For Fluvanna residents who are already receiving food assistance through SNAP benefits; the Commonwealth of Virginia will be increasing the amount of your SNAP benefits; you should receive your normal SNAP benefit on your regular distribution day, and then you should see an additional deposit into your account on April 16. Visit Virginia.gov/coronavirus for more information. If you will be applying for SNAP or other assistance, you can visit commonhelp.virginia.gov to start the process. If you have questions, please reach out to Fluvanna County Social Services at 434.842.8221.
Fluvanna residents whose hours have been cut because of this outbreak, or who have been laid off because of it, can file for unemployment by visiting this website: Vec.virginia.gov/node/11699. The Commonwealth has waived the usual one-week wait period for employment benefits to activate. If you have applied for benefits in the past and been declined, you are encouraged to apply again as regulations have changed, and may continue to change. Please note that you must file weekly once you have been approved in order to continue to receive your benefits.
HOW TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED:
To donate to the Fluvanna Food Bank at Carysbrook, either donate by cash or check at the food bank at Carysbrook, or at E. W. Thomas Grocery Store in Palmyra, or call E. W. Thomas Grocery Store and donate on the phone using your credit card. Call 434.589.8412 on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon and ask for Beth Thomas.
To donate to the mobile food pantry at Effort Church, visit EffortChurch.org/give and click on the food pantry envelope.
To donate to the “Backpack” or “Food4U” programs, please call Gary Greenwood at 434.989.5942.
