WHAT IS MARCH?
MARCH, in its 29th year of operation and a service of United Way, involves congregations, individuals, businesses, foundations and agencies organized to provide food to individuals and families in crisis times.
MARCH supplies food to seven emergency food sites located in high-risk neighborhoods in the City of Richmond. Food is distributed from community centers to individuals and families who are in crisis situations. These centers are located where neighborhood people know they can come for many types of help and information.
Last year, MARCH provided $40,169.25 in food to 36,243 people.
THE PEOPLE MARCH SERVES
Many people in the Richmond, Virginia community struggle day in and day out to make ends meet. While soup kitchens feed the homeless, there are still many people who barely maintain themselves in a room, apartment, or house, often just one crisis away from homelessness. They face agonizing decisions about whether to pay for rent or fuel or medicine or food. They include seniors, individuals with no support system, people escaping abusive situations, those recently discharged from hospitals or substance abuse programs, those released from prison, and many, many children.
Many of the people who are hungry are employed, but may work one or more part-time jobs and still not make enough to feed their families. Time limits or restrictions on government programs leave others ineligible for food stamps.
MARCH DISTRIBUTION SITES
MARCH supplies food to seven emergency food sites. All are in the city of Richmond. Most of these independent agencies have social workers, community workers and programs already in place that screen, assist and refer so that those who receive food are not simply "patched up." These sites have been in existence for years, and the residents know where to go in crisis times.
Bainbridge Community Ministry
1400 Perry Street
Richmond, VA 23224
(804) 232-3091
Church Hill Christian Wellness Center
2011 Fairmont Avenue
Richmond, VA 23223
(804) 780-0053
Family Resource Center (Church Hill)
2405 Jefferson Avenue
Richmond, VA 23223
(804) 644-4496
Richmond Community Action Program (RCAP) Central
436 Calhoun Street
Richmond, VA 23220-2405
(804) 788-0219
Richmond Community Action Program (RCAP) Southside
214 E 13th Street
Richmond, VA 23224
(804) 788-0232
Salvation Army - Downtown
2 W. Grace Street
Richmond, VA 23241-0240
(804) 225-7470
William Byrd Community House (Oregon Hill)224 S. Cherry Street
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 643-2717
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE FOOD
Supplying food for MARCH emergency sites is an ongoing challenge. It is rare for a location to have enough food that lasts through the entire month.
Hungry people who request emergency food face tough choices every day, not just around the holidays. Back-to-school, winter fuel expenses, unavailability of outdoor day jobs, and children at home in summer pose seasonal hardships on families and agencies.
Food donations help tremendously and provide a hands-on mission or service project. If you hold a food drive, your food donations may be taken to any MARCH location, or you may call Ellen Reaves, MARCH Coordinator, (at 775-6482 or 346-2651) to find out which location is most in need of emergency food.
Click here for suggestions for food donations to the MARCH sites and ideas for conducting a food drive.
|