The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank served nearly 118,000 people in the last fiscal year, all while relying on aging equipment at the space it rents at 1207 Harris St. The City of Charlottesville is planning to invest $215,000 in unspent federal funds to help the organization solve a crisis.
“BRAFB’s current refrigerator unit was installed a little over 14 years ago and is, consequently, rapidly approaching the end of its rated service life of 15 years,” wrote the city’s Office of Community Solutions staff in a memo to City Council.
The source of the funding is Charlottesville’s allocation from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant funds. Projects at 10th and Page and Ridge Street that were allocated funding have not been completed, and the federal government wants its money back if it’s not spent.
“BRAFB has to turn away deliveries of significant amounts of fresh produce because they lack the space needed to safely store it until it can be distributed to those in need,” the report continues.
A freezer was installed last year, but the refrigerator is experiencing issues with decaying seals that require constant repair to keep things cool. Funding would also be used to cover the loading dock to provide protection from the elements during delivery.
According to Feeding America, the food insecurity rate in Charlottesville for 2023 was 11.2 percent, compared to a statewide average of 8.1 percent. The food bank’s annual report for that year describes a “quiet crisis,” due to both the pandemic and ongoing macro-economic conditions.
“Inflation created high hurdles for families with low incomes,” writes BRAFB CEO Michael McKee in the report. “For single mothers, that bad news is compounded by expensive child care, which can now exceed the cost of tuition at Virginia state universities.”
One concern could be making a large investment in space not owned by the organization. In response, the landlord sent a letter to the city stating an intention to renew the lease for at least another seven years.
“Eagle Corporation values the food bank as a tenant and, most importantly, as a vital organization in the communities we both serve,” wrote the organization’s David Paulson.
If another reading is approved by City Council in March, this would be the second recent capital investment council has made in a food-related nonprofit. Last March, it allocated $500,000 to New Hill Development Corporation’s BEACON, a $2.3 million food entrepreneurship program that will be located in Kathy’s Shopping Center, which is currently under renovation.
City Council also allocated $155,000 toward food equity in both of the last two fiscal years. The group Cultivate Charlottesville is hoping council will help create a community garden in Washington Park.