Richmond, VA (September 26, 2024) – Feed More is thrilled to announce that it received a generous “Fly Beyond” grant from the Wawa Foundation to help provide students in Central Virginia with increased access to more nutritious meal and snack options. The funding will help power Feed More’s School Market program, which holds monthly farmer’s market-style distributions at schools in rural and urban communities that face barriers to accessing nutritious food. School Markets are open to students who attend the school, and their families, and each distribution provides between 35-50 pounds of fresh produce, lean proteins and healthy shelf-stable food.
The Wawa Foundation’s Fly Beyond Key Issue Grants range between $10,000 and $250,000 and are awarded to qualified partners with existing or new programs aligned with this goal. In total, The Wawa Foundation is awarding $1.5 million to 25 Fly Beyond Key Issue Grant recipients as part of a set of signature initiatives to make more fresh, nutritious meals available to youth and families through its food bank partners.
“The Wawa Foundation’s generous support of our School Market program empowers us to make a real, and tangible, difference in the lives of young neighbors across our region,” said Aaron McClung, Chief Development Officer at Feed More. “Together, we are not just providing healthy meals, but nourishing hope and opportunity for a brighter future.”
As a current community partner nonprofit of The Wawa Foundation, who is part of the Feeding America food bank network and a current Check-Out Hunger food bank partner of The Wawa Foundation, Feed More applied for a Fly Beyond Key Issue Grant during the March application period. The Wawa Foundation reviewed proposals and awarded grants based on fit within Fly Beyond criteria and goals, program reach and impact, and size of Wawa market served.
“The Fly Beyond key issue grant is a significant effort to fight food insecurity in our communities and will focus on programs emphasizing that good, nutritious food can build healthy habits, support the success of students and help them thrive,” said Elizabeth Simeone, President of The Wawa Foundation. “We were thrilled to support Feed More as they work to provide consistent access to nutritious and healthy meals for kids. By supporting these programs and our partners, we hope to inspire others, raise awareness and reach more youth to achieve their greatest potential. We are very excited to begin to share our Fly Beyond mission with our newest Food Bank partners in the Midwest as we begin our expansion to these new markets.”
About Wawa and The Wawa Foundation Fly Beyond Programs
Launched in 2023 with initial partner Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Fly Beyond programs are supported by Wawa and The Wawa Foundation with the goal of fighting food insecurity at the community level. They are designed to inspire goodness and increase access to fresh, nutritious food and healthy meals for underserved youth through Wawa’s Feeding America food bank partners. Fly Beyond connects all programs focused on this core issue to enable measurements, foster communication and drive solutions. In addition to the Second Harvest program and this key issue grant program, the Fly Beyond initiative also includes “Buy a Kids Meal, Make an Impact.” Running from March through July, for every Wawa Kids Meal sold, Wawa will donate $0.33 of the profits to a local food bank partner, which is the equivalent of one meal for food bank partners.
About Feed More
Feed More collects, prepares and distributes food to neighbors in need throughout Central Virginia. With a service area that stretches across 34 counties and cities, Feed More’s comprehensive programs and network of more than 380 distribution partners helps ensure our communities have access to healthy meals. Feed More is a proud member of Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America. For additional information, please visit FeedMore.org, find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram , LinkedIn, TikTok and X.
