How We Spent Our Summer Vacation

With a Picnic... The Park View Cafe was moved outside July 31 for the second year in a row. Our Board of Directors hosted a Summer Block Party July 31 in place of the usual Wednesday night supper. Neighbors enjoyed a full menu of hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecue, thanks to the hard work of many volunteers. Plus, it didn't rain!

And a Party! How do you want to be remembered? Britt LeCompte didn't want to be known just for reaching his 100th birthday, he wanted to do something to help children. His family members were refugees from Europe in World War I and were given a chance at a better life. So when friends wanted to throw a birthday party he made a matching challenge request to give local kids a chance at a better life.

For each person who donated $25 to Food for Thought, that amount would be matched up to $5000. With Britt's gift, over $10,000 has been contributed so far. Food for Thought Director Dr. Laura Bauer said, "He reached out to me several months ago because he wanted to be remembered as a man who loved children, not as one who lived to be 100. He is so passionate about how Food for Thought feeds hungry kids, even though he never had any children of his own. We're glad he's our friend, and we are so grateful for his support."

Saluting Our Major Food Suppliers

Kroger Holds “Spread the Love” Event Kroger encouraged customers to purchase jars of peanut butter this month, and we collected more than 100 jars from the Timberlake Kroger that will be used in our Food For Thought program. The store also gives us hundreds of pounds each week as part of the company's "Zero Hunger, Zero Waste" campaign.

Local Walmart Stores Issue Grants  Thanks to five local Walmart stores for supporting our work with a total gift of $5000. The donations were made by the Community Grants Team at the stores located in Madison Heights, Wards Road, and Old Forest Road, as well as the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Forest and Sam’s Club in Lynchburg.

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is "Cool!" We added a new cooler for dairy products in the Food for Families pantry, thanks to our partnership with the Food Bank. They have been a mainstay in their "behind the scenes" support of our programs. And, what most people don't know is that they work with close to 50 other local partners in Central Virginia!

A Treat From Isabella’s Restaurant Andrew and Cheri Barauskas wanted a special way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their restaurant, Isabella's Italian Trattoria. They came up with “Isabella’s Do-Good Dinners.” a series of ticketed fund-raising meals to benefit local non-profits. Park View was honored to be the first one chosen, receiving a portion of the proceeds.Hoping to sell 20 tickets for the August 22 event, they were surprised to have 28 guests, and raised over $1000 so far! Why do we talk about raising money so much? In a word: GROWTH! In our next newsletter we'll share stories of how we're able to touch more lives than ever, because of friends like you who give, volunteer, and pray!

for helping us!

Sharing with the needy takes an army of volunteers, and it's impossible to publicly thank everyone who has enlisted in our cause. Here are some examples of how we do what we do. If you or someone you know can give of themselves in a similar way, please call or visit us for more information. Neighbors who visit our Food for Families pantry may have difficulty carrying their groceries home, so volunteers will give them a ride. Others faithfully give us the plastic grocery bags they get from stores. Some volunteers are part of our "pickup" crew, bringing produce, meat, dairy, and bakery products from stores each week. Others are members of churches that are "school partners" with our Food for Thought backpack program. They "adopt" a school by picking up bags and delivering them to their school each week. Church groups come on Wednesdays on a rotating basis to provide a meal at our Park View Cafe. And more are needed! Retirees are always welcome, especially since they have free time during the week when many of our other volunteers are working or in school. After a lifetime of working for compensation, they now find great satisfaction in working for a cause! WILL YOU MAKE IT YOUR MISSION TO HELP US WITH OURS? TO VOLUNTEER: Text helpPVCM to (760)670-3130, Call 434-845-8468, or come take a tour! TO DONATE: Text givePVCM to (760) 670-3130, go online, or mail to the address below.