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FROM STAFF REPORTS
ABINGDON, Va. – Food City, a prominent grocery retailer headquartered in Abingdon, stepped up its support for Feeding Southwest Virginia (Feeding SWVA) by making a significant donation to aid the Mobile Marketplace initiative on Monday, Dec. 11, hosted at Food City #823 located at 151 Cook Street, Abingdon.
The Mobile Marketplace program, an innovative direct-to-service approach, caters to underserved demographic groups and rural communities, ensuring easy access to fresh, convenient groceries. It specifically provides SNAP-eligible groceries for purchase and offers a noteworthy benefit – Virginia Fresh Match outlets, allowing SNAP Customers to avail themselves of a 50% discount on produce purchases.
Food City’s collaboration with Feeding SWVA is a crucial step towards ensuring the sustainability of the Mobile Marketplace, an essential resource for individuals encountering challenges accessing local, affordable, and healthy groceries. The impact of this partnership has been notable, particularly in Abingdon, where the Mobile Marketplace has experienced a staggering 40% increase in gross sales year over year. For the fiscal year 2022-2023, the sales rose from $81,889 to $114,322, underscoring the escalating concerns surrounding healthy food accessibility in rural areas.
Feeding Southwest Virginia, operating across a vast 26-county, nine-city region, is a significant force in tackling food insecurity. The organization channels over $30.6 million worth of food and groceries through an extensive network of 266 partner feeding programs. This substantial contribution plays a pivotal role in addressing the pressing issue of food scarcity and nourishment in the region.
The collaboration between Food City and Feeding SWVA not only reinforces the commitment to supporting local communities but also signifies a collective effort to alleviate food insecurity and ensure equitable access to healthy sustenance for those in need across Southwest Virginia.