OAK HILL — The West Virginia National Guard assisted with recent food pantry distribution efforts in the state, including a stint of service with the volunteers and staff at the SALS Historic Oak Hill School on Friday, Nov. 7.
The Southern Appalachian Labor School mobilized its staff alongside the WV National Guard to provide food to low-income, hungry families on Friday at the SALS Historic Oak Hill School’s Helen M. Powell Food Pantry. Food was provided by generous donors and the Mountaineer Food Bank through a special state initiative, according to a SALS press release.
Barbara Painter, the SALS food coordinator in Oak Hill, said that 480 people were served, which marked a 60 percent higher increase than normal.
SALS held a second distribution on Monday, Nov. 10 at the SALS Community Center in Beards Fork, according to Artie Mullins, who is the SALS food coordinator at Beards Fork.
Emergency food distributions may also occur in the coming weeks, SALS officials noted.
John David, the longtime volunteer director of SALS, says hunger is a major problem in West Virginia which impacts health, mortality and workforce availability. As a result, SALS is “doing its utmost to provide food to low-income families impacted by the SNAP cutback, with special emphasis on children and those who are elderly or disabled in rural coal camp communities,” he said.
“Today, we’ve got enough food, and if the need arises, we can go ahead and do another one (distribution),” Painter said Friday as volunteers and Guard members prepared for the families to stop by the pantry. “Mountaineer Food Bank did send us a bunch of fresh fruit, so people will be getting nutritious stuff. We’re doing good for today.”
She reiterated David’s concerns, saying she is especially worried about the children and the elderly receiving proper nutrition during a time of crisis.
Painter acknowledged the National Guard’s assistance on Friday. “They see the need and, like everyone else right now, they worry about basically everybody, but the children, wanting to be sure the children eat,” she said. “I had a gentleman that sat there and cried because he didn’t have food to feed his children before they went to school.
“And that gets you right at the heart.”
Another food distribution is tentatively set at the HOHS on Thursday, Nov. 13, Painter said Tuesday, although details were still being finalized.
David expressed concerns about what will happen after the recent “welcome little spurt” of contributions. “What’s going to happen after the spurt … to help people stay alive?” he asked.
SALS is a non-profit organization actively seeking donations to obtain healthy and nutritious food. For donations over $500, West Virginia tax credits are available, but amounts of any size are appreciated. Donations can be sent to the Southern Appalachian Labor School, P.O. Box 127, Kincaid, WV 25119, or donate online at www.sals.info/donate.