Food Pantry Grant

Last fall, the Session submitted a grant application to the 2 Cents A Meal program on behalf of the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry. The Presbytery committee approved a grant of $1,865.56 to support the program. Andrea Muscatello, Director of the food pantry, has plans for the grant, as outlined in a letter of thanks for the grant.

For the past three years, the Pantry has operated a summer food program to help support children when school is not in session. In our county, 36% of children qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program, and the need for additional food support during the summer months is significant. Until recently, this program was funded through a grant that expired in 2025. As we prepare for the summer of 2026, we began exploring new ways to continue this important effort.

We are pleased to share that your grant will support the launch of a new partnership with The Outreach Program. This ministry provides nutritious meals that can be packaged on-site by volunteers and distributed to families through the pantry. The meals require only hot water to prepare, making them simple and accessible for children. These are shelf stable meals and cost approximately 40 cents per meal.

Your gift will help make possible a community meal-packing event where volunteers will assemble these meals for distribution to children and families served by the pantry. In addition to providing food, this event will bring members of our community together in a shared effort to address childhood hunger. We are sincerely grateful for your generosity and look forward to sharing photos and a brief summary of the event with you once it has taken place.

Northside members have been invited to participate in the packing event. The date and schedule will be shared when they are released.