Latter-day Saints donate 40,000 pounds of food

ABINGDON, Virginia — Approximately 40,000 pounds of shelf-stable food from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived at the Feeding Southwest Virginia facility in Abingdon on April 2. This donation, celebrating service through America250, will help neighbors facing food insecurity by providing enough food for approximately 33,000 meals, or to feed 1,500 people for a week. The delivery is part of a nationwide effort by the church to send 250 truckloads of food to 250 food banks across all 50 states as the United States prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Overall, about 10 million meals are being donated by the church. America250 is a nonpartisan congressional commission inviting Americans to mark this milestone through remembrance, reflection and service. "We're really excited for this donation and to be working with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints once again," said Rachel Garnett, Feeding Southwest Virginia director of marketing and communications. "This donation will directly impact the thousands of neighbors in Washington County who face hunger." "This particular delivery is part of a broader initiative — a national and local celebration of service to commemorate America's 250th birthday," said James Boone, regional leader of seven congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southwest Virginia and Eastern Tennessee area. "We're thrilled to extend the love of Jesus through working together with our neighbors like Feeding Southwest Virginia in helping those in need. We feel unity, love and strength together as we strive to live the second great commandment, to love our neighbors." Virginia is home to 100,031 Latter-day Saints who are part of two missions and 213 congregations, while there are over 60,000 church members who attend 116 congregations in Tennessee.