Last week I had the opportunity to go to the warehouse for the Richmond Food Bank to drop off our company NewspaperDirect’s collections for our first annual holiday food drive. We had about eight boxes of various types of food. When I drove into the warehouse I was shocked to see that there were dozens of large crates covered with what must have been several thousands of different types of food items. I guess I didn’t really expect that there was as much demand for the Food Bank’s services in Richmond.

At the warehouse I met Rick Younie who works with the Food Bank and he informed me that although people perceive Richmond to be less affected by poverty, they get visits from as many as 150 families a week. I was very happy to also see some of their volunteers and it just reaffirmed my appreciation for the work done by the Food Banks.

If you haven’t had a chance yet, please get out to your local Food Bank or any convenient drop-off location and share some non-perishable food items for those less fortunate. Rick mentioned that infant formula and powdered milk are two items that are a little more expensive but also more in need – the requirements for donations may vary across food banks so it’s best to check with your local food bank.