The Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry

The Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry is a local nonprofit organization that aims to help bring together the community, and provide food and services to the families of Blacksburg and McCoy. Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry operates through a combined effort of 25 churches, and community members' volunteer work and donations, The pantry was founded on October 15, 1987 to help fight local hunger and scarcity, and hosted by Blacksburg Baptist Church for its first 25 years of operation. ^[1] The pantry is organized like a grocery store, ^[3] providing necessary supplies and food to those in need . The organization is local to the Virginia Tech community, being located at 706 Harding avenue, Blacksburg, Virginia. The Blacksburg IFP works to serve the community, collecting and providing necessary resources to local families.

The Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry is operated through a combined effort of many people and organizations, being run entirely by volunteers and charitable donations. The Blacksburg Baptist Church hosted the food pantry for the first 25 years of its operation. Now, more than 25 local churches of different faiths work to serve the IFP. The organization is managed by an advisory board of volunteers from the community and centers of worship. The current director of the organization is Andrea Muscatello, and the Advisory Board is chaired by Sandy Hagman. ^[1]

Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry brings together the community not only through the service provided, but those who volunteer to provide those services. Volunteers serve on a rotating schedule throughout the month, meeting client needs. St. Mary's Catholic Church is one of many contributors to the organization. Members of the church volunteer on the fourth Thursday of every month, and donate food and monetary donations.^[6]

Local Schools and student groups at Virginia Tech also provide donations and volunteer work. Virginia Tech Cadets and Greek life groups such as Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Gamma, and Lambda Chi Alpha host food drives for the Pantry. Donations to the IFP also come from food drives hosted in local schools such as Blacksburg New School, and Blacksburg Middle School cross country team ^[2]

Customers of the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry comment on the staff members' friendly and helpful demeanors. Zai Cook, a local guide on Google Review, commented; “Interfaith was incredibly welcoming. They showed me how to shop, how much food I could get, and thanked me for coming when I left. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone I know.” ^[4] As someone who is on the donating end of the process, Mark Priest described the food pantry as having "great organization. They accepted our large food donation.(4.5 tons of potatoes) [Their] facility was very nice. Easy to deliver the donation.” ^[5]

The IFP also works with local organizations and companies in the Blacksburg area. Businesses such as Zeppoli's Restaurant in Blacksburg and Strange Coffee Company in the town of Riner partner with Blacksburg IFP to collect donations. Community groups such as the Blacksburg Women’s club have provided volunteering and donations for many years. ^[2]

With the combined effort of organizations and members of the community, the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry is able to serve "several hundred families a month." ^[1] The Pantry has become a "10,000 square foot facility funded through donations from Dr. T. Marshall Hahn and other members of Blacksburg United Methodist Church." ^[1] This organization positively impacts not only those in need, but those who volunteer their service and donations to the cause, as well as benefiting the community as a whole.

^[1] Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry. About Us, New River Community Action. Accessed April 27th, 2023. https://newrivercommunityaction.org/IFP/about-us/.

^[2] Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry. Facebook Page, Facebook. Accessed April 27th, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/BburgInterfaithFoodPantry/.

^[3] Whittaker, Michelle. Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry, Google Review. May 9th, 2018. Accessed May 9th, 2023. https://www.google.com/search?q=blacksburg+interfaith+food+pantry+review&oq=blacksburg+interfaith+food+pantry+review&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160l2.5854j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lrd=0x884dbe376264433b:0x57d9b8a90559589e,1,,,,.

^[4] Cook, Zai. Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry, Google Review. April 9th, 2023. Accessed May 9th, 2023. https://www.google.com/search?q=blacksburg+interfaith+food+pantry+review&oq=blacksburg+interfaith+food+pantry+review&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160l2.5854j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lrd=0x884dbe376264433b:0x57d9b8a90559589e,1,,,,.

^[5] Priest, Mark. Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry, Google Review. May 9th, 2018. Accessed May 9th, 2023. https://www.google.com/search?q=blacksburg+interfaith+food+pantry+review&oq=blacksburg+interfaith+food+pantry+review&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160l2.5854j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lrd=0x884dbe376264433b:0x57d9b8a90559589e,1,,,,.

^[6] Blacksburg Interfaith Food Bank, Saint Mary's Catholic Church. Accessed May 9th, 2023. https://stmarysblacksburg.org/blacksburg-interfaith-food-bank.