• Lexington
  • Rockbridge
  • Buena Vista
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Regional
  • In-Depth Reporting
  • About Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Rockbridge Report
Rockbridge Report
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • Lexington
  • Rockbridge
  • Buena Vista
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Regional
  • In-Depth Reporting
  • About Us
Wednesday, October 4
Rockbridge Report
Home»Food»Community groups to offer food to students and their families during holiday break

Community groups to offer food to students and their families during holiday break

December 8, 20222 Mins Read

By Lily Mott

Local nonprofits, like the Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA) and Washington and Lee’s Campus Kitchen, will provide extra support for families facing food insecurity during the holidays.

About 10% of households in Rockbridge County are food insecure, compared to the statewide average of 8%.

There are free meals available for RCPS and LCS students at Maury River Middle School over summer break, but not over winter break. (Lily Mott photo)

The Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee University provides food for Rockbridge County families with students through their Backpack Program and Mobile Food Pantry Program.

“In particular, our Mobile Food Pantry Program usually sees a significant uptick around the holidays,” said Campus Kitchen Coordinator Ryan Brink. The Mobile Food Pantry Program collaborates with RARA to deliver groceries to remote areas in Rockbridge County.

RARA operates a neighborhood food pantry for community members to shop for themselves four days a week. Households may visit once a week.

Executive Director of RARA Lindsey Pérez says they’ve seen greater need in the community due to inflation. Families are also receiving fewer benefits that were offered during the pandemic.

“We tend to see more around the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Pérez said.

Pérez encourages families facing food insecurity to visit RARA and stock up by Dec. 17.

Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA) provides groceries for families in need at their food pantry on Spotswood Drive. (Lily Mott photo)

Through the school year, families rely on free and reduced meals for their children. During the winter break, Rockbridge County Public Schools and Lexington City Schools are encouraging families to seek out support from the community.

“RARA is a great partner as well that we certainly encourage our families to reach out to RARA if they have needs,” said Jason White, director of operations and student services for Lexington City Schools.

RCPS’s federal nutrition funding does not cover meals over break. The other issue is a shortage of staff, said RCPS School Nutrition Supervisor Daphne Stickley.

“My staff needs a break, so we don’t actually offer anything for students once they’re out of school,” Stickley said. “Maybe we could do something, but we just don’t have the staffing to offer anything.”

For more resources and information about receiving food over the holidays in Rockbridge County, visit https://rockbridgefeeds.org.

Related

Oct. 3, 2023 News Update
Sept. 8, 2023 Newscast

rockbridgereport

The commonwealth’s attorney for Rockbridge Count The commonwealth’s attorney for Rockbridge County and Lexington said he wants victims of sexual assault at Washington and Lee University to seek help from police and prosecutors who can investigate and file criminal charges. 

In the past month, two former W&L students have faced sexual assault charges.

Read Ned Newton’s full story on our website, rockbridgereport.wlu.edu.
Lexington’s City Council has given the go-ahead Lexington’s City Council has given the go-ahead for a developer to begin drafting plans to build apartments off Spotswood Drive. 

The new permit approval comes after months of controversy about the design. 

Read Andrew Arnold’s full story on our website, rockbridgereport.wlu.edu.
A new, 24-hour EMS crew will help in providing bac A new, 24-hour EMS crew will help in providing backup services to Glasgow and other nearby cities and towns.

For more details on the new EMS crew, visit: https://youtu.be/k03HNBKB978.
Buddy, the horse, and Police Chief Angela Greene l Buddy, the horse, and Police Chief Angela Greene led the Lexington Christmas Parade. Buddy is one of the future Mounted Police Unit horses working with the Lexington police. 

Watch Buddy and the latest broadcast of the Rockbridge Report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDZ4A6xuk-4
A developer sought final city approval this week t A developer sought final city approval this week to build 62 apartment units on Lexington’s Spotswood Drive.

Echelon Resources went before the city’s planning commission Thursday to request a permit allowing the developer company to construct multi-family housing at the Spotswood site. The planning commission will offer a recommendation for approval or denial to the Lexington City Council. The city council will likely have a final vote on the permit in early January.

The proposal received some pushback from Lexington residents who fear the development will significantly increase traffic, impede the local hospital, or strain the city’s water and sewer systems. 

For more details on the Spotswood proposal visit: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/spotswood-drive-apartment-complex-moves-forward/
Lexington’s city manager is searching for a full Lexington’s city manager is searching for a full-time city attorney. The previous city attorney, Jared Jenkins, no longer serves in the position following his split from Mann Legal Group.

Learn more by visiting the Rockbridge Report website: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/lexington-replaces-city-attorney/
Two students at Virginia Military Institute and Wa Two students at Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University posted bomb threats on anonymous social media platforms last week.

After investigations, both posts proved to be false alarms. Disciplinary measures for the students are unclear. 

Read the full story here: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/two-university-bomb-threats-posted-on-anonymous-social-media-proved-false/
Local nonprofits, like the Rockbridge Area Relief Local nonprofits, like the Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA) and Washington and Lee’s Campus Kitchen, will provide extra support for families facing food insecurity during the holidays.

Read more about this on the Rockbridge Report website: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/community-groups-to-offer-food-to-students-and-their-families-during-holiday-break/
“Normal people can’t afford that." Lexington “Normal people can’t afford that."

Lexington is Stacey Dickerson-Suggs’ hometown, but the single mother can’t afford to live here. Virginia house prices are going up about 10% each year. In Lexington, the median price of a home has increased 27% in the past year.

Read more about this on the Rockbridge Report website: https://rockbridgereport.academic.wlu.edu/2022/12/08/lexington-renters-buyers-cant-find-affordable-housing/
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Twitter
My Tweets
Reporters

Luke Fountain

Jenny Hellwig

Jak Krouse

Emma Malinak

Fraley Williams

Producers

Christian Basnight

Jack Hunter

Teddy Jacobsen

Ned Newton

Billy Queally

 

Supervisors

Kevin Finch

Alecia Swasy

Michael Todd

Rockbridge Report
© 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Go to mobile version
 

Loading Comments...