West Virginia Farm Credit Associations Donate $15,000 to Mountaineer Food Bank
Horizon Farm Credit and Farm Credit of the Virginias – the two Farm Credit associations serving West Virginia – made a recent collaborative donation totaling $15,000 to the Mountaineer Food Bank. The funds will support the Mountaineer Food Bank’s purchase of produce, meat and dairy products from local producers, which will be distributed through programs such as the Mobile Pantry.
The Mountaineer Food Bank is the largest emergency food provider in West Virginia, distributing over 17 million meals to food-insecure neighbors annually. The Mobile Pantry Program serves to deliver fresh, healthy foods to families in “food deserts” where food accessibility is limited. The mobile pantries offer fresh produce, proteins, dairy products and shelf-stable foods to thousands of West Virginia households each month.
"Mountaineer Food Bank extends a sincere thanks to Farm Credit of the Virginians and Horizon Farm Credit for their generous collaboration in supporting our mission. Their joint contribution empowers us to not only feed those in need but also to invest in our local communities by purchasing from farmers, producers and suppliers,” said Chief of Development for Mountaineer Food Bank, Breanna George. “Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient foundation for our feeding programs and creating a positive impact on the lives of those we serve."
Farm Credit of the Virginias’ CEO, Brad Cornelius, said, “Our support of agriculture and our rural communities goes beyond the financial services we offer. We are proud to lend added support to our customer-owners through our commitment to giving back and strengthening the communities they call home. It is an honor to once again team up with our friends at Horizon Farm Credit to help advance the Mountaineer Food Bank and their vital hunger-relief efforts in West Virginia.”
“Our farmers have committed their lives to feeding people and serving the needs of others,” said Tom Truitt, CEO of Horizon Farm Credit. “Supporting the great work being done by the Mountaineer Food Bank is an additional way for us to honor those commitments,” he continued. “We are pleased to join with Farm Credit of the Virginias in this effort to ensure that our friends and neighbors have access to fresh, local and nutritious food,” Truitt said.
About Farm Credit of the Virginias
Farm Credit of the Virginias provides over $2 billion dollars in financing to nearly 12,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural homeowners throughout Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland. Farm Credit is a cooperative capitalized largely through investments made by farmers, ranchers and the rural homeowners and businesses that borrow from them. In fact, as part of a nationwide network they are the largest single provider of agricultural credit in the United States and have been for over 100 years. Farm Credit helps maintain and improve the quality of life in rural America and on the farm through its constant commitment to competitive lending, expert financial services and for facilitating and sharing knowledge and resources through the Farm Credit Knowledge Center.
About the Farm Credit System
The Farm Credit System is a national network of lending institutions that collectively provide a wide range of financial and lending services to rural America. Farm Credit institutions are cooperatives, capitalized largely through investments made by farmers, ranchers and the rural businesses that borrow from them. In fact, as part of a nationwide network they are the largest single provider of agricultural credit in the United States and has been for over 100 years. Farm Credit helps maintain and improve the quality of life in rural America and on the farm through its constant commitment to competitive lending and expert financial services.