FACES Foodbank receives $31,770 in support

Published 10:10 am Thursday, June 28, 2018

Farmville’s FACES Foodbank has received a check for $31,770 to support recovery efforts following flash flood damage this spring.

The generous donation comes from Virginia Credit Union, the Hotel Weyanoke, other local businesses and credit union members and employees. Virginia Credit Union pledged up to $5,000 in matching contributions to reach the total. The Hotel Weyanoke pitched in $1,000.

The final total was reached after Virginia Credit Union set up a fund to collect donations from members and employees at its branch at 100 Midtown Ave. in Farmville through its telephone contact center, and at other branch locations in Richmond.

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In addition to the cash contribution, more than 400 boxes of breakfast cereal have been collected and delivered to FACES, mostly from credit union employees.

FACES supply of cereal was wiped out when floodwaters entered the food pantry in May. Sara Justice, a Virginia Credit Union employee from Farmville who coordinates the credit union’s community outreach committee, spearheaded the emergency effort to collect funds and food to help FACES back on its feet.

“FACES and the people of Farmville have a special place in my heart,” Justice said. “I’m from Farmville and I’m so proud to be part of an organization that wants to do whatever we can to be of assistance.”

“This was such a shock to us,” said Linda Satkowski, vice president of FACES food pantry. “We had so much food that was destroyed by this flood. We operate completely by volunteers and donations, so we need as much help as possible.”