Google.org partners with Feeding Southwest Virginia
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, is partnering with Feeding America and Feeding Southwest Virginia to immediately help provide meals to Southwest Virginians in need and build long-term technology solutions to scale its impact and provide the community with greater access to resources.
This announcement is part of a larger initiative from Google.org and Feeding America to help provide 50 million meals* to communities across the United States. Today, 34 million Americans, including 9 million children, are facing food insecurity. Among Feeding America network food banks, 90 percent report an increased or sustained need over the last month.
Food banks themselves face mounting headwinds as food donations decline and costs rise for freight, food purchase and every other aspect of operations. Feeding Southwest Virginia has seen this need firsthand.
“With inflation increasing the cost of everyday expenses, our neighbors are turning to food banks more than ever. Many are forced to make the impossible choice of rent, medicine or utilities instead of food, which is a decision no one should have to make,” said Pamela Irvine, President and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia. “We are thankful for partners like Google.org and Feeding America that not only provide operating support to help reduce hunger in Southwest Virginia, but also understand the critical role technology investments have on our ability to provide for our neighbors who are food insecure.
“Nationally, Google sees a spike in searches for food support every November, but more than ever before, Americans made searches around “food” and “prices” in 2022. They also searched “how to give back” more than ever, with searches for “where to donate food near me” skyrocketing 850 percent over the past five years.
“Addressing food insecurity requires a sustained and coordinated approach. We’re proud to partner with Feeding America to deliver over 50 million meals to people in need, and to work with them to strengthen their technology infrastructure,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. “We’re also making our products, like Search and Maps, more helpful to people searching for resources or ways to give back.”
“It takes a community to impact a community,” Irvine said, “That is why we are thankful for Google.org’s grant to help us nourish neighbors here in Southwest Virginia. On behalf of the food-insecure neighbors in our region, I thank you for your generosity.”
For more information about Feeding Southwest Virginia, visit https://www.feedingswva.org/
