Mobile Food Pantry
The Mobile Food Pantry program started in 2015 as an expansion program of CKWL focused on providing access to fresh produce, frozen meats, and non perishable items to remote areas of Rockbridge County. We at CKWL recognize the challenges associated with transportation when working in a rural community such as ours, so we developed the model for a Mobile Food Pantry to try and bridge that gap. Each mobile distribution site will be unique to the community capacity and community needs. The target audience for the Mobile Food Pantry is members of Rockbridge County who have difficulty getting assistance from traditional brick and mortar pantry models due to a variety of factors including but not limited to transportation issues.
In 2019 we shifted our model to incorporate greater collaboration with the Rockbridge Area Relief Association, the largest food pantry in Rockbridge County. By streamlining our model to utilize the greatest strengths of each of our organizations we have been able to provide more food to more families in Rockbridge for a lower cost to both organizations. Being that the purpose of this program is to address the food needs of areas of Rockbridge County that lack brick and mortar style pantries, we have worked to develop a close network with local food service providers called Rockbridge Feeds in an attempt to avoid duplication of services and ensure that we meet all of the needs our community presents. Through working with this coalition we are able to evaluate our effectiveness in relation to other organizations, and go where the needs are greatest. Here are the current sites we are operating through the Mobile Food Pantry:
- Home Deliveries to Rockbridge Baths, Raphine, and South Buffalo, 1st Friday of the Month
- Natural Bridge Volunteer Fire Department, 2nd Friday of the month, 2-3pm
- Lexington House and Windemere Apartments (Lexington), 3rd Thursday of the month 1-3 pm
- Fairfield Presbyterian Church, 3rd Friday of the month, 10 am - 12 pm
- Goshen Public Library, 4th Wednesday of the month, 2-3pm