Feeding Southwest Virginia hopes to provide 750,000 meals through Giving Tuesday donations

SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — Giving Tuesday is a worldwide movement focused on opportunities to help organizations serve their communities, including the southwest Virginia community.

According to the GivingTuesday 2020 Impact Report, people donated approximately $2.47 billion in the U.S. on Giving Tuesday last year.

In honor of Giving Tuesday, WFXR News’ Hazelmarie Anderson is rolling up her sleeves and joining Pamela Irvine, CEO for Feeding Southwest Virginia to learn more about the importance of the non-profit and why volunteers are needed.

“It makes me feel good and I guess it makes everybody else feel good too. Everybody likes to be able to help their neighbors if that’s what’s needed and this is just part of it,” said Feeding Southwest Virginia volunteer Paula Alston.

The organization says one in eight residents in the southwest Virginia region faces food insecurity.

“For over 140,000 individuals in our service region, hunger is an everyday way of life,” stated Feeding Southwest Virginia. “This holiday season many families are facing higher grocery and fuel costs and experiencing food insecurity. Every donation matters – especially now!

According to Feeding Southwest Virginia, donations that are made during Giving Tuesday will be matched up to $75,000.

“When we make our goal, that will be 750,000 meals we can provide to the southwest Virginia region,” the nonprofit organization told WFXR News.

For more information on how you can help support Feeding Southwest Virginia, click here.

Giving Tuesday is the perfect occasion to donate your time or money to any organization, such as animal shelters and humane societies, small businesses and corporations, schools, community groups, or other charities and nonprofits.