The Salem / Roanoke County Food Pantry provides nutritionally balanced food orders to low-income families who live in Salem or Roanoke County (including Vinton).
Each family receives a week’s worth of groceries that is proportional to family size and includes meat, fruit, vegetables, and carbohydrates. We can serve clients once a month, thereby stretching their food budgets by 25%. Clients are referred to us by government agencies, medical facilities, schools, and churches.
The Snack Buddies program was created with the smiles of children in mind. Each day, elementary and pre-school children have mid-morning snacks before lunch.
Our goal is to see that no child is left without a snack during snack time. Snack Buddies provides nutritional snacks to all the public elementary and pre-schools in Salem and Roanoke County. Each month volunteers deliver at least 100 different snacks to each school. Some schools get more, depending on their need. These snacks are then passed out to the children who need them by either their guidance counselor or teacher.
Although the primary mission of the Pantry is to feed the hungry, many of our clients struggle to meet other basic needs as well. The Financial Assistance program can help clients once per year with cut-off notices for vital utilities like water, heating oil, electricity or eviction notices for rent.
Checks are sent directly to the vendor on the client’s behalf, thereby helping him/her maintain safe and stable housing when a financial crisis arises.
Adequate nutrition is crucial in child development to ensure that children can grow strong and healthy. Unfortunately, baby food, formula, diapers and wipes are expensive. Low-income families may struggle to provide the basic necessities all babies need. The Crib Ministry program provides families with children up to three years of age with baby items when they pick up their regular food order. They may come in more often for these items when needed.
