Editor:

Virtually every week for the past 35 years, FACES Food Pantry has shown that the Farmville/Prince Edward community cares about its most vulnerable members by distributing food to hundreds of low income local families. Due to strong community support, FACES has become the largest supplementary food agency in Southside Virginia, distributing over 1.2 million pounds annually. In recognition of its effectiveness and impact, Richmond-based Feedmore (Central Virginia Food Bank) has committed substantial financial support to build and equip a facility to sustain FACES’ work.

But as critical as the new building is to its future, FACES’ work can be sustained only by members of the community itself who are willing to commit their energies and talents to this work.

Despite major growth in response to need, FACES has remained all-volunteer. Hiring even one full-time position would cut funding for food in half. The 16 members of FACES’ board are its staff, and each member has an assignment requiring two to 20 hours a week. Additional work is done by community volunteers, churches and students while colleges are in session.

But FACES is now in need of additional volunteer assistance and will be more so this summer when students are away and next fall when we move to our new facility. Jobs range from bagging food, store pick-ups, delivering to shut-in clients, and assisting with Saturday distributions, to computer work, registration records, research and grant writing. Time commitments range from a couple of hours a month on up. Any help is welcome. Many volunteers find it enjoyable and exhilarating to work with others in a good cause.

If you are interested in volunteering with FACES and showing that your community cares for all of its citizens contact Ellery Sedgwick, either by email at esedgwick@longwood.edu or phone (434-392-3588).

Ellery Sedgwick

Farmville