Churches pitch in to assist foodbank

A new interfaith advisory group plans to pitch in to bring more food and volunteers to the Central Virginia Foodbank.

Several ministers gathered yesterday on the state Capitol grounds to pledge their support to the foodbank and urge legislators to approve $1 million in funds for Virginia's association of seven regional food banks that is included in Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's revised 2009-10 budget.

The advisory group, to be formed in March, will urge participating congregations to collect food and volunteer, said the Rev. Joe Ellison, pastor of Essex Village Community Church in Henrico County.

Ellison, who is leading the effort, said that in the community he serves, "there are kids eating out of trash cans on the weekend."

The advisory group will "make sure the food goes in the areas it needs to go," he said.

Those needs are not limited to any specific racial group or location, the pastors said.

"When you're hungry, all you need is something to eat," said Jim Langlois, pastor of The Master's House in Ashland.

Ellison said he asked about 30 churches to deliver food to a site near the Bell Tower yesterday where he spoke.

But "a lot of the pastors had their congregations take the food directly to the foodbank instead of coming here," he said.

The new ecumenical partnership comes at a time when volunteers and contributions are declining and needs are growing, said Fay Lohr, chief executive officer of FeedMore, the umbrella organization overseeing the Central Virginia Foodbank and Meals On Wheels.

"A thousand cans of tuna fish go out everyday. . . . We have no tuna fish on the shelves right now," Lohr said.

Food requests are up at a time when financial support from some longtime partners is either gone or shrinking.

For example, Circuit City was not just a financial contributor, but many of its employees were volunteers, Lohr said. Those volunteers are now looking for work.

"These are challenging times, but together we are stronger," Lohr said.

For additional information, contact Ellison at (804) 228-3660 or the Central Virginia Foodbank at (804) 521-2500.

Contact Robin Farmer at (804) 649-6312 or .