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Fresh Food Express van expands capacity of Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

Rebecca Barnabi
Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

Devils Backbone Brewing Company is supporting a new Blue Ridge Area Food Bank initiative with the unveiling of the Fresh Food Express van.

The van expands the food bank’s capacity to serve all communities with nutritious, fresh produce. The Fresh Food Express ensures neighbors and families experiencing food insecurity across the food bank’s service area have access to healthy options.

With the food bank on track to deliver more than 33 million pounds of food in the current fiscal year ending June 30, the Fresh Food Express van plays a role in reaching underserved communities and smaller food pantries.

The collaboration reinforces the organization’s commitment to supporting local individuals with access to nutritious food.

“Born and bred in the Blue Ridge Mountains, supporting our local communities is at the heart of what we do at Devils Backbone. We are honored to support our longtime partner with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in this important effort to ensure fresh, healthy food reaches our neighbors throughout the area,” Devils Backbone General Manager Megan Tuttle said.

Large trucks are not practical for small, frequent deliveries. To improve efficiency and ensure food safety, the
food bank has added the nimble, refrigerated van to its fleet specifically to deliver fresh foods for distribution.

“We are thrilled to introduce the Fresh Food Express van and extend our mission of providing fresh, healthy food to areas that need it most. Thanks to the generosity of Devils Backbone Brewing Company and another longtime donor The Perry Foundation, we can reach more families and provide them with essential nutrition,” Michael McKee, CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, said.

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca J. Barnabi is the national editor of Augusta Free Press. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington, she began her journalism career at The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. In 2013, she was awarded first place for feature writing in the Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia Awards Program, and was honored by the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2019 Media Honor Roll Program for her coverage of Waynesboro Schools. Her background in newspapers includes writing about features, local government, education and the arts.

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