Led by Program Director Bladen Finch, recently recognized by Richmond’s Style Weekly as one of the Top 40 Under 40, the Senate of Virginia’s Page Leadership Program has given back to our mission in a big way since 2013. With donations of food, funds and time this group has helped us provide more than 149,000 meals to our neighbors in their times of need.
Structured similar to a college preparatory class focused on developing future leaders, throughout the course of this seven- to nine-week program, the 34 Pages have their plates full! From studying the Virginia constitution to learning the daily legislative calendar to assisting Senators during floor sessions and committee meetings, these young men and women do a little bit of everything during their time at the Capitol, all while keeping up with school work assigned by their home schools and helping Feed More.
A big component of the Pages’ Community Service Project is collecting food and funds to help us feed more, which the Pages do in a variety of ways. Whether it is setting up food donation boxes in the Capitol and legislative buildings, soliciting donations from lobbyists, legislators, family members and others they work closely with, we continue to be impressed by the creative and impactful ways each Page class supports our mission.
“We are so very thankful for our continued partnership with the Senate of Virginia’s Page Leadership Program,” said Tim McDermott, Chief Development Officer at Feed More. “By continuing to choose Feed More as their Community Service Project, they have helped us make a significant difference in the fight against hunger.”
In addition to the financial support and donation of food, for the past few years the members of the Senate Page class have also come in to lend a helping hand at Feed More sorting the food they have gathered.
The future is looking mighty bright with these young women and men leading the charge!
