Helping rural neighbors has unique challenges. But your support, and people like Corey, help us go the distance.
For these folks, access to grocery stores – not to mention schools and healthcare – is often 20 to 30 miles each way. That means higher fuel costs and more wear and tear on vehicles. In fact, 6-10% of their household income goes toward vehicle related expenses. This is one of the reasons 1 in 8 rural households face food insecurity.
That’s why we’re constantly working with our network of distribution partners to find the best ways to get food where it’s needed most. And no one knows that better than Corey Bass, our South Hill Distribution Center Manager.
Corey manages our 1,000-square-foot warehouse in South Hill. Opened in 2019, it provides fresh produce, proteins and other staples to rural pantries, school markets and mobile pantry distributions across Brunswick, Charlotte, Greensville, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg and Emporia. By placing nutritious product closer to our neighbors, we reduce touch points, and lower transportation and distribution expenses.
This is important for partners like The People’s Pantry, serving South Boston. Year to date, they’ve fielded more than 4,400 visits from neighbors experiencing food insecurity and distributed over 88,000 pounds of food.
South Hill and our food rescue program, leveraging local retail partners like Dollar General, Food Lion, Sheetz and Walmart, help keep their shelves stocked and their many neighbors nourished.
Together, this network of caring partners, local pantries and folks like Corey (and team) ensure healthy food makes its way to the tables of those who need it most.
