CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Mountaineer Food Bank and community partners gathered at the West Virginia State Capitol on Tuesday to raise awareness about rising hunger in the state.
While in the Capitol’s rotunda, lawmakers and residents engaged with organizations working on the front lines to end food insecurity in the state for Hunger Free Day.
Mountaineer Food Bank was joined by partnering agencies that help distribute food directly to community members including Scott’s Run Settlement House in Monongalia County, Always Blessed Connections in Braxton County, Clay Family Support Center in Clay County, Wellspring in Greenbrier County, and Step by Step.
About one in six West Virginians, nearly 280,000 people, struggle to have enough food to eat regularly. That number includes more than 70,000 children.
When a child does not receive regular meals, it can lead to long-term harm, including cognitive delays, worsened academic performance and poor physical health.
“We know that food insecurity is hard to see,” CEO of Mountaineer Food Bank said in a release. “For policymakers, this may mean not recognizing struggling families despite the real and growing need in our communities. We encourage members of the Legislative to learn the scope of hunger in West Virginia and to support efforts that strengthen our food assistance network. With thoughtful policy and collaboration between government, nonprofits, and local communities, we can make meaningful progress toward ending hunger in our state.”
Facing Hunger Foodbank Executive Director Cindy Kirkhart said during an appearance on MetroNews Midday Tuesday that the organization wanted to give a voice to those facing hunger.
“To really underscore the voices of the people who are not here with us today, who are food insecure and counting on those elected officials to take the action to ensure people have enough to eat,” Kirkhart said.
She said that most food-insecure households include someone who is working full-time.
“89 percent of the people we serve are people who are doing all the right things, they just need some additional support with food, and without food they can’t do the right thing.” Kirkhart said.
If someone is working but facing food insecurity, it can create barriers to employment, including increased stress, missed shifts and chronic health conditions.
Kirkhart said she was grateful to Governor Patrick Morrisey for including funding for the Community Food Program in the state budget. The $1 million will be distributed among food banks across West Virginia.
However, she said they were hoping for additional funding due to rising food costs.
“We were hoping for more because that’s been the same amount since 2018 and everything costs a lot more,” she said.
She also said that while funding may be limited, the organization will continue working to educate the public about how widespread hunger is, especially during times of high inflation.
Kirkhart also emphasized the importance of the Food is Medicine initiative, which aims to ensure all West Virginians have access to affordable, nutritious food.
She said they continue to have conversations with Delegate Evan Worrell and Senator Laura Wakim Chapman about the initiative.
Kirkhart said she has already seen the program make a positive impact, particularly as people are happy to receive fresh produce and as participation in canning classes to preserve that produce has increased.
“When you grow your own or support your local farmers, which we do, and we encourage other people to do, the food just taste better and it’s better for you and it’s not all hyped up with GMOs,” she said.
Kirkhart said she is excited to see how much further the program can go.
“I’m thrilled that this will at some point a statewide opportunity versus what grant I might have and I can only serve x area,” she said.