Residents responded to an increase in need with a resounding show of support for the hungry at this year’s Craftsmen’s Fall Classic by donating 25,692 pounds of food. The food collected will provide over 19,000 meals to the hungry in Southwest Virginia.

The donations come at a time when the additional help is needed. Currently Feeding America Southwest Virginia is experiencing a nine percent increase in need, while the food receipts over last year remain unchanged.

“It’s encouraging to see this kind of a response to one of our largest food drives of the year,” said Pamela Irvine, Feeding America Southwest Virginia President & CEO. “The residents visiting the show didn’t just bring a can or two, they brought entire bags filled with food donations, and we believe that says a great deal about the generosity of Southwest Virginia. We would also like to thank the promoters of the Fall Classic for their willingness to support the hungry by opening this show up free to the public and allowing Feeding America Southwest Virginia and the partner feeding programs we serve to benefit from this wonderful event.”

Submitted by Feeding America Southwest Virginia.