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An estimated 10% of Virginians were food insecure before the COVID-19 pandemic; that percentage increased to 22% between April and May 2020, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services.
By Grace Bost and Katharine DeRosa
The founders of Fonticello Food Forest bent down under the picnic table to pick edible chickweed leaves and lavender flowers. Moments later they were running to their neighbors’ aid – some of their chickens were loose.
Jameson Price and Laney Sullivan founded the outdoor space, which serves as a free source of fresh and perishable food for community members. The food is donated or grown on site, the pair said. The property is located in Carter Jones Park, south of the James River in Richmond.
“This is not charity work,” Price said. “This is just work.”
Price and Sullivan are part of a larger effort to mitigate food insecurity and food waste across Virginia.
Food insecurity means a household lacks access to enough food for a healthy lifestyle, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An estimated 10% of Virginians were food insecure before the COVID-19 pandemic; that percentage increased to 22% between April and May 2020, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services.
Nationally, food insecurity went unchanged at 10.5% between 2019 and 2020, according to the USDA. However, food pantry usage increased between those two years.
More than 4% of families used food pantries in 2019 and, almost 7% of families reported using a food pantry in 2020, according to USDA. The 2021 data was not available as of mid-April, according to USDA.
Food pantry usage is higher among those who experience food insecurity, according to USDA.
Local grocery stores and nonprofit organizations such as Feed More food bank provide food for the Fonticello Food Forest, Price and Sullivan said. They have built contacts with store employees to help acquire leftover food; one method also deployed by the food sharing organization Food Not Bombs where Sullivan also works.
“We’re trying to go and establish relationships and understanding of what we’re trying to do, and the impact that it’s giving to families and to folks that need the food,” Price said, “Especially as cost continues to rise but waste doesn’t seem to be decreasing.”
Over 816,000 tons of surplus food was sent to the landfill in Virginia in 2019, according to data from ReFED, a nonprofit dedicated to ending food loss and waste across the U.S. That includes food surplus from manufacturing, retail, food service, farming and residential sources. The food that Fonticello Food Forest saves from waste is a tiny piece of the billions of pounds of food thrown away every day, Sullivan said.
“This is not the better world,” Sullivan said. “This is better than it would be if it was all going in the trash, but it’s not the ideal.”
RVA Community Fridges works to increase access to fresh, locally-grown food, according to Taylor Scott, the mutual aid nonprofit’s founder. The program works to keep 10 established fridges in the Richmond area stocked with free food. Scott founded RVA Community Fridges in 2020 after wanting to redistribute surplus tomatoes she grew in her home garden.
Mutual aid is the principle of serving one’s community to meet the immediate needs of community members, according to GlobalGiving, a nonprofit organization that connects other nonprofits with donors and companies.
The goal is to add more fridges in food deserts, areas that are far from grocery stores and have limited access to affordable and fresh food.
The newest fridge was established at Ms. Girlee’s Kitchen—a restaurant in the Fulton Hill neighborhood—after community members highly requested it. The area is a food desert lacking basic infrastructure, according to Scott.
Providing food for the Fulton Hill community has been rewarding, Scott said. Over 60% of the neighborhood’s population is Black, and 10% are over age 65, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Scott wants to add more fridges in communities of color. Black individuals make up 29% of the population of Richmond and Petersburg, but account for 48% of people experiencing poverty, according to United Way, an organization that funds nonprofits in the Richmond area. Latino individuals make up 6% of the population but account for 15% of individuals experiencing poverty, according to the same data.
The Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU in 2020 started a collaboration with Duron Chavis, an urban farmer and community activist, to highlight issues of food insecurity. Chavis grew food in the vacant lot outside the museum that was later distributed. The project also highlighted the importance of Black community spaces to have conversations about food justice.
People cannot discuss food insecurity without discussing the issue of land use, Chavis said, because those who do not have access to healthy food often don’t have access to land to grow that food.
“Our work is about reaching people’s dignity and their ability to be self-determining and to make decisions for themselves that increase their health and increase access to healthy food without hoping on some outside resources to come in and make everything better for them,” Chavis said.
Governments could create something like an office dedicated to urban agriculture, but Richmond hasn’t established such an office, Chavis said.
Mark Davis, founder of Real Roots Food Systems, also is working to expand access to locally-grown food. The organization’s goal is for people to know where their food comes from and experiment with ways to obtain food that doesn’t involve purchasing items.
“I think it’s a special thing to be in a cashless exchange in times like these, to create a resiliency in communities like this,” Davis said recently when interviewed for the “Black Space Matters” Season Two documentary series.
Davis said that he grows food on land in Hanover County, owned by Richmond-based First Baptist Church. The church then donates the food to food pantries and other outlets. RealRoots wants to create less waste in landfills and meaningful collection of research around waste diversion.
Virginia legislators are also enacting laws to help support access to local agriculture. Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, introduced House Bill 2068 in the 2021 Virginia General Assembly session to connect local farmers to local consumers, he said.
The bill, which was passed unanimously by both chambers in 2021, established the Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Grant Program. The program created grants to support infrastructure and other projects to support local farming. The grants are available on a competitive basis and award up to $25,000 per grant, according to the bill.
Some examples of ways the grants have been used include flash freezing produce, canning farmed food and transferring farmed food to wholesale markets, Rasoul said.
“So, it’s all about trying to get that local food from the farm to the market, and at the same time reducing our [carbon] footprint,” Rasoul said.
Rasoul introduced HB 323 this past session to double the program’s available grant money from $25,000 to $50,000. Both chambers in the General Assembly also passed this measure unanimously.
The grant program awarded eight grants in December 2021 to various food infrastructure projects. Two of the projects involve improving farmer’s markets, two involve meat processors and two involve upgrading local canning systems, according to the Virginia Department for Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Food insecurity worsened because of COVID-19, according to data from Feeding America. However, data suggest food insecurity was a problem among college students before the pandemic.
Youngmi Kim, associate professor of social work at Virginia Commonwealth University, researched food insecurity among college students before the onset of COVID-19. She found that 35% of VCU students experienced food insecurity.
This finding inspired environmental studies professor John Jones to dream up a miniature version of the main food pantry on campus, which began in 2014 and is located inside the University Student Commons at VCU.
Little Ram Pantries launched in October 2021 in various locations around campus. People can take however much of the nonperishable items they need and donate as much food as they can. Jones had the idea for the effort when he came across a small food pantry in the Church Hill neighborhood in Richmond, he said. The effort mirrors the “little free pantry” movement spawned from little free libraries seen in neighborhoods around the U.S.
One aspect preventing people from using the main food pantry on campus is the stigma associated with food pantries, according to Jones. He wanted to employ the Little Ram Pantries as a way to eliminate the stigma surrounding using resources, he said.
“Let’s try to make this so visible on campus that it fades into the background,” Jones said.
Jones received program funding from the Office of Community Engagement and VCU Service Learning, and has support from the school’s Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry, and Innovation. Each box has a sensor to track when the boxes are opened and closed for Jones’ research.
Jones found students interact with the Little Ram Pantries at over twice the rate they visit the main campus food pantry. The main food pantry on campus receives about 34 visits per week, Jones said, while the satellite version he launched receives about 75. This success led to him expanding the program by creating more locations.
“I think that the data that we have is very promising,” Jones said. “And I think that with some tweaking, I think the model could be very effective on other campuses.”
Professors from the University of Alabama and the University of West Georgia reached out to him about starting their own version of the program, Jones said. He wants to launch a website that details best practices for miniature food pantries, he said.
Despite the success of the Little Ram Pantries and other food pantry models, Jones said food pantries are not a solution to food insecurity.
“If our society wants to be serious about fixing the underlying issue as to why people are hungry, then we need to look at the issue of why people aren’t being paid enough,” Jones said.
Fonticello Food Forest founders Price and Sullivan helped round up the neighbor’s loose chickens and returned to finish the interview.
Efforts to combat food insecurity are notable, they said, but shouldn’t be necessary.
“In a truly just world and a truly reciprocal, mutual-aid world, there wouldn’t be this food waste to be redistributed and folks would be more connected to the food process,” Price said. “We understand that that’s not such an easy thing, to just suddenly flip a switch on, so you do what you do in the meantime.”
The Capital News Service is a flagship program of VCU’s Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture. In the program, journalism students cover news in Richmond and across Virginia and distribute their stories, photos, and other content to more than 100 newspapers, television and radio stations, and news websites.
Today, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced the first presumed monkeypox case in a Virginia resident. The initial testing was completed at the Department of General Services Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. VDH is awaiting confirmatory test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Today, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced the first presumed monkeypox case in a Virginia resident. The initial testing was completed at the Department of General Services Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. VDH is awaiting confirmatory test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The patient is an adult female resident of the Northern region of Virginia with recent international travel history to an African country where the disease is known to occur. She was not infectious during travel. She did not require hospitalization and is isolating at home to monitor her health. To protect patient privacy, no further information will be provided. The health department is identifying and monitoring the patient’s close contacts. No additional cases have been detected in Virginia at this time.
“Monkeypox is a very rare disease in the United States. The patient is currently isolating and does not pose a risk to the public.” said State Health Commissioner Colin M. Greene, MD, MPH. “Transmission requires close contact with someone with symptomatic monkeypox, and this virus has not shown the ability to spread rapidly in the general population. VDH is monitoring national and international trends and has notified medical providers in Virginia to watch for monkeypox cases and report them to their local health district as soon as possible. Based on the limited information currently available about the evolving multi-country outbreak, the risk to the public appears to be very low.”
Although rare, monkeypox is a potentially serious viral illness that is transmitted when someone has close contact with an infected person or animal. Person-to-person spread occurs with prolonged close contact or with direct contact with body fluids or contact with contaminated materials such as clothing or linens. Illness typically begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swelling of the lymph nodes. After a few days, a specific type of rash appears, often starting on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. Symptoms generally appear seven to 14 days after exposure and, for most people, clear up within two to four weeks. Some people can have severe illness and die. As with many viral illnesses, treatment mainly involves supportive care and relief of symptoms.
If you are sick and have symptoms consistent with monkeypox, seek medical care from your healthcare provider, especially if you are in one of the following groups:
If you need to seek care, call your healthcare provider first. Let them know you are concerned about possible monkeypox infection so they can take precautions to ensure that others are not exposed.
On May 20, 2022, VDH distributed a Clinician Letter to medical professionals reminding them to report any suspected cases of monkeypox to their local health department as soon as possible and implement appropriate infection prevention precautions.
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, the World Health Organization website and the VDH website.
A wild critter we spotted in the RVA area and a critter up for adoption by SPCA.
Image Courtesy: ENTOMOLOGY at the University of Kentucky
Where Spotted: Everywhere Common Name: Tent Caterpillar Scientific Name: Malacosoma americanum Length: 2-2-1/2 inches long
Quick Facts Courtesy of Entomology at the University of Kentucky
If you’re a fan of original content like those photos above be sure to give our Instagram and Dickie’s Backyard Bird Blind Bonanza on FB a follow and consider making a donation.
Hey there! My name is Jessifer. No, I am neither a turtle nor a wallflower. I am just a gal that is trying to break free of being labeled a scared cat. I know once I am adopted my personality is going to soar. Can anyone help me out by taking a chance on me?
Age: 4 years, 2 months Gender: Spayed Female Color: White / Orange ID: 49726824
Adopt Jessifer at Richmond SPCA
Learn more about their adoption process.
Two of our events are tonight so get ready to head there after work. If you’re cool that is otherwise move along and read about a robot bringing you food at Cville Three Notche’d.
Drag Bingo: Mamma Mia at Starr Hill May 17th (TONIGHT), 7-9 PM
Bingo while Drag Queens doing Mamma Mia. Sounds like a delight to the eyes, ears, and beers delighting the belly.
Mamma Mia–here we go again! 🕺💃👰♀️
Drag Bingo returns with more amazing performances from Mamma Mia the movie, inspired by ABBA! Join your favorite hosts, Michelle Livigne and Wette Midler, for a crazy night of fun 🎡
We’ve got bingo, musical drag performances, prizes, and Happy Hour, so don’t miss out! Timber Pizza Co. will be on the patio for dinner
Profs. and Pints: Seeking Our Earliest Ancestors at Triple Crossing Fulton May 17th (TONIGHT), 6 PM, $6-8, Tickets Here
By earliest ancestors, we’re not talking about your great-great-grandpappy who ran a still. We’re talking your grandpappy who ran from critters that wanted to eat him for lunch.
Profs and Pints Richmond presents: “Seeking Our Earliest Ancestors,” with Dr. Amy L. Rector of Virginia Commonwealth University, a paleoanthropologist who has spent more than 20 years investigating human origins on the African continent.
What does it mean to be human? That’s the primary question that drives the research of Professor Amy Rector, a paleoanthropologist and paleoecologist who also serves as director World Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Her quest for knowledge about our earliest ancestors has taken her to the field in Morocco, South Africa, and Ethiopia, and has her in the process of launching a new research project in Zambia. But you don’t have to go any farther than Richmond’s Triple Crossing-Fulton brewpub to learn about her most interesting findings and experiences.
Dr. Rector will discuss how her work involves identifying fossils from 2 to 3 million years ago to reconstruct what the world must have looked like when our ancestors work up in the morning. Using such information, she seeks to piece together the story of how environmental contexts shaped the evolutionary history of our lineage. What was food for such ancestors? As important: What around them considered them food? The answers to these questions shed light on what traits enabled them to avoid starvation and escape predators long enough to pass on their genes.
She’ll discuss how we identify our ancestors in the fossil record and tell stories of fossil hunting adventures and experiences such as coming face to face with a hyena in the dark. It will be an absolutely fascinating evening, and Triple Crossing’s great beer and pizza will ensure that the environmental context for it is darned good. (Advance tickets: $12. Doors: $15, or $13 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later. Please allow yourself time to place any orders and get seated and settled in.)
HumpDay HaHas at Isley Brewing May 18th, 6:30-9 PM
Protip the more you drink the funnier they are. Protip #2 don’t drink so much that you think you’re funny because it won’t go well when you get up there and people will record it to your eternal shame.
“Uh ooh, guess what Ht day it is?!” 🐪
That’s right! It’s Wednesday! Time for #HumpdayHaHas, Isley’s Open Mic Comedy! 🎙
Come out to watch local comics work on their material or maybe even sign up and try out some of your own jokes while you sip on a craft beer or seltzer! 🍻
Signup at 6:30, Show starts at 7!
5k Beer Run at Main Line Brewery May 21st, 11 AM – 2 PM, $30-100 Tickets Here
I’m a drinker not a runner but some of you semi-healthy folks are both. Go for it.
We are the Virginia Brewery Running Series™ and we run for beer!
Join us at Main Line Brewery on May 21st, 2022 for a 5k-ish, fun run event that starts and ends at this awesome taproom in Richmond, VA. Run, walk, jog – whatever goes! Complete the course and celebrate with us and a local craft brew at the finish line.
What’s included?! All participants receive: CASH to purchase first beer, additional merch or to keep! Your choice of a collector’s pint glass or seasonal swag item from the Brewery Running Series Your chance to win sweet door prizes, like Brewery Running Series merchandise or a gift card Access to event festivities, games, goodies and giveaways
And more! 2022 marks our 10 year anniversary season! The Brewery Running Series started with one event in Minneapolis, MN in 2012 – we now organize over 300 events per year, across 20+ states and counting! Our mission is to be active, have fun and give back to our local community. A portion of all proceeds supports local nonprofits – over $250k raised to date! This event will add to that tally – supporting the efforts of local charities // supporting organizations like The Longest Day. So not only do you get to enjoy some healthy activity and great, local beer – you are helping us support local organizations that do important work in our community.
Registration is limited, so sign up today!
Important details: This is an untimed, fun-run. All levels of walkers, runners, and joggers are welcome. This is an open course, meaning roads will NOT be closed. You are responsible for obeying all traffic laws and regulations.
We create each route to start and end at the brewery and to show off the surrounding neighborhood. The course will be marked with arrows to help you know where to go.
You must bring a valid ID or driver’s license. You do not need to be 21 to enjoy the event, but you must be 21 to enjoy the beer. Please drink responsibly. Registered, underage participants will receive a token for a FREE non-alcoholic beverage.
Our events are rain or shine! If conditions become unsafe to run, we will still hang out and drink beer.
There will not be a bag check; please plan accordingly and dress appropriately for the weather.
Dogs and strollers are welcome on the course, with care and caution. Please remember – you are running at your own risk on city sidewalks/streets/trails, which might not be suitable for your 4-legged and /or pint-size running buddies. You will also want to check with the brewery to make sure you can abide by their dog / underage policies. Please make the best decision possible for your crew.
Please drink responsibly. We always encourage carpooling and safe, designated drivers. Keep an eye out – we will send you all final event details via email the week of this event and share anything else you might need to know.
Questions? Check out our FAQ | Contact us at [email protected] Cheers to beers! We’ll see you at Main Line!
No robot for Richmond yet but maybe someday the future will be here as well.
Three Notch’d Brewing testing robotic food runner – NBC29
“Every table is put into the machine, it’s got a little screen on the back, you just hit the table number, it goes right to the side of the table and parks,” Scott Roth said. “The idea would be that if you’re running short on hosts or on food runners, which a lot of people in our industry are, you might have an opportunity to try to offset some of that with the use of the robot.”
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