Bank on it: Facing Hunger continues mission

Feb. 16—Facing Hunger Food Bank provides meals for thousands of families each year struggling with food insecurity.

The non-profit organization is aimed at feeding families in the tri-state area — assists, supports and feeds families. Elizabeth Watson, of Facing Hunger Food Bank, said a mobile pantry food truck travels across more than a dozen counties setting up drive-thru distribution sites.

"We will bring the food with the truck and we unload it onto pallets and it's like a drive-thru," Watson said. "People can pick up to three families; there are a lot of people who pick up for their neighbors, church members and family that don't have any transportation or who are elderly and can't get out.

"We see that quite a bit, a lot of neighbors helping neighbors," she added. "I am a natural helper, I have always been my whole life and I am a firm believer that if you are doing fine, you should take up your brother, you should take up your sister, to help them. That is what we are here to do is to help others."

Facing Hunger Food Bank serves 17 counties, 12 in West Virginia, four in Kentucky and one in Ohio. In those counties there are 300 agencies scattered throughout towns to serve families facing food insecurity.

"That is your church pantries, City Mission, Salvation Army ... we help support and provide food for. We do a lot of distributions at those locations," she said.

Watson said they are serving 250 households per distribution site.

"We are able to go out into those counties with a loaded truck full of food and be able to set up a distribution," Watson said. "A lot of our donated products we get from our community partners — Walmart, Kroger, Target. We've gotten a lot of donations from Target here lately from what happened."

One week after a water main break shut down the Barboursville Target, a hillside slip has caused the back portion of the building to separate itself from the rest. The store has announced they will be closed for a prolonged period of time.

Facing Hunger Food Bank feeds roughly 130,000 families per year, according to its website. It operates just like any other non-profit and is not federally or state-funded but operates off of grants, Watson said.

Watson described how being part of the organization has been eye-opening for her.

"There are so many people out there needing help," she said. "A lot of people are blinded by how many people suffer from food insecurity. When you think of a hungry person, probably the first thing that comes to mind is a homeless person or someone holding up a sign on the side of the street.

"Food insecurity is rooted so deep," she continued. "We have a lot of seniors who are raising their grandkids and they are already on a fixed income."

There are no qualifications or applications to receive assistance at distribution sites, Watson said.

"If you are hungry, you need help or you need food, you can come to a mobile pantry, that's what these mobiles are for. ... I am on the grounds and getting to talk to folks who are having hard times, we are talking a lot of folks."

Watson said, over time, she has observed families expressing relief when picking up food.

"They are so thankful, I have seen people cry."

She recalled a memory when a birthday cake was handed out to a family.

"We had some Valentine's Day cakes (this past week) and we had a couple little kids in the car. We were able to give them cake and they just lit up. Their mom is in tears, like 'thank you so much.' It's touching."

Watson said everybody is just so "thankful" and "relieved" mobile pantries are here for them.

"I've gone out to the cars that were first in line before. ... There have been a few of them that stayed overnight in a parking lot to make sure they got food. I'm like, OMG, and I am saying 'I'm hungry because I haven't had lunch yet.' It really is eye-opening."

Upcoming mobile pantry distribution times and locations:

—Feb. 22: Lincoln County, West Virginia, at Alum Creek Church of Christ at 2368 Childress Road, Alum Creek, West Virginia, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

—Feb. 26: Mingo County, West Virginia at Larry Joe Harless Community Center at 202 Larry Joe Harless Drive, Gilbert, West Virginia from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

—Feb. 28: Martin County, Kentucky at Pigeon Roost Community Center at 1714 North Wolf Creek Road, Lovely, Kentucky, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

—Feb. 29: Lawrence County, Ohio, at Central Christian Church at 1541 South 7th St., Ironton, Ohio, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

(606) 326-2657 — ajohnson@dailyindependent.com