Happy Holidays from Food Independence!!! What a joyful ride Food Independence, our volunteer “staff” and
our clients have had the last 18 months! We have distributed nearly 200,000 pounds of food to local families
and provided emergency food boxes for critical needs through local agencies. In November, at the request of
the Health District, we began the “HI-5” program that provides Grayson County Schools with 250 bags per
month of breakfast, lunch and snack items for a 5-day school week for students in home isolation due to covid
exposure.
In early 2021, Food Independence joined Feeding Southwest Virginia and received a Virginia Community
Development Block Grant through the Town of Independence. After wonderful local donor support that got us
started, these two things provided funding and access to lower food costs that helped us meet demand and
purchase needed equipment. Our all-volunteer staff provided the “free” energy to run the pantry! Huge shoutout to our volunteers!!!
We will enter 2022 in good financial condition but demand is great, opportunities are many, and need is long
term. Our grant ends this winter and the amount of donated food available from Feeding America/Feeding
SWVA is shrinking due to short supplies. While we will pursue other grants, our future depends on local
support. We need your financial support for the long-term health of Food Independence, our clients and our
community!
We urge you to make a contribution that allows Food Independence to continue providing food assistance in
our community. Please help us help our friends and neighbors. Send checks made out to Food Independence to
P.O. Box 201, Independence, VA 24348 or donate online at the Grayson LandCare web site
https://graysonlandcare.org/product/food-independence-donation. Some folks make recurring (e.g. monthly)
donations through e-checks or similar. This lets “small” recurring donations become “large” annual donations
($25/mo. equals $300/yr!). If you have questions or want to discuss Food Independence, call or text me.
We appreciate your past support and encouragement. Thanks in advance for helping support our long-term
mission as a community-based and community-focused food pantry.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Tom Simpson
Tom Simpson, Chair
Food Independence Food Pantry
Cell/Text: 276-768-0957
