FriendsGiving

Over 600 Meals Served At Community Event

Hundreds of area residents gathered at the Virginia Horse Center last Thursday evening for the first Rockbridge FriendsGiving.

The event, open to all area residents, was a collaborative effort developed by Rockbridge Connect & Nourish, Feed the Need Foundation, and the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany.

The event was created to bring community members together to enjoy an evening of food, conversation and entertaining music.

By the evening’s end, more than 500 meals were served to 412 diners, and at least 75 meals to volunteers, for a total of 615 meals that evening.

Food remaining following the event was maintained in accordance with USDA requirements and then donated to Unity4Kids, a local nonprofit organization that was able to then deliver an additional 249 meals to area residents this past Sunday.

The meal was provided through a collaboration of multiple area caterers who donated the food, along with the Rockbridge County High School Culinary Program, which prepared and carved 40 turkeys for the event.

The meal included turkey, stuffing with gravy, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes with gravy, bread, green bean casserole, corn, deviled eggs, cornbread, cranberry, and cake.

A number of area businesses and organizations helped sponsor the event. (For a list, see the ad on page A2.)

Representatives of a number of community programs also set up resource tables for dinner patrons to visit, including ACG Hospice, Buena Vista Police Department, Central Shenandoah Health District, Connections+Healthcare and Hospice, Department of Social Services, Project Horizon, Rockbridge Area Community Services, Rockbridge Area Health Center, Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Rockbridge Recovery, and the Valley Program for Aging Services. More than 100 diners visited the various resource tables during the event.

In addition, the Rockbridge FriendsGiving event also held a coat drive. New and gently used coats were donated at the event, and at least 60 diners were able to take one with them when they left the meal. Any remaining coats will be available at Rockbridge CAN and Unity4Kids meals.

Volunteers also played a significant role in the success of the event. More than 70 volunteers from area schools, employers, and area residents participated at the event.

“Starting with the setup, throughout the event, and cleaning up after the event, the volunteers were outstanding and greatly appreciated,” said Michelle Watkins, executive director of CAN.

For Kathy Larlee, chairman of the Feed the Need Foundation, the event fulfilled its goal of “bringing the community together to let the community know we care about them.

“At Feed the Foundation, we help when and where we can, working by, with, and through communities. So, we were very pleased to have this opportunity to bring our own little community together. I hope to see everyone at our FriendsGiving next year,” she said.

Watkins added, “Food insecurity is a real concern in our area. Social isolation is equally concerning, especially during holidays, and that’s why opportunities to bring people to the table can be nurturing to both the body and the mind.

“Responses to this event were so exciting, and I am eager to explore other opportunities to support our community,” Watkins continued.

Among those giving positive responses to the event was Rockbridge County Sheriff Tony McFaddin, whose officers volunteered at the event. “The community event was truly exceptional. Our first responders were privileged to work alongside these three exceptional organizations to provide a quality meal and meaningful fellowship,” he said.

Buena Vista Police Chief Wayne Handley also praised the event. “The Buena Vista Police Department is always proud to stand with our community partners. Being able to participate in this year’s FriendsGiving event allowed us an opportunity to meet with citizens in a nonenforcement manner, and continue strengthening our ties to the community. The importance of building social capital between police departments and communities is a vital function of public safety, and we were happy to participate.”

Tammy Montgomery Reid, CFO of Spencer Home Center, one of the sponsors, and executive director of Unity4Kids, said, “The organizations and volunteers created a welcoming environment where people could share delicious food, conversation, and support – showing the power of community unity and compassion in making a lasting difference.”