The American Heart Association is doubling down on last year’s successful Pack the Pantries food drive through the Richmond Heart Walk campaign and hoping to gather 2,000 pounds of heart healthy foods to donate to local food pantries. The campaign, which will be active until the Heart Walk on October 22 at Libbie Mill Midtown, will provide boxes to area businesses to serve as drop off locations, with the final collection occurring at the Heart Walk in a truck provided by Performance Food Group.
“Without access to affordable healthy foods, a nutritious diet and good health are out of reach. In Richmond, 49,000 children live in an area with limited access to nutritious foods. Pack the Pantries is a way of getting the right heart healthy foods to those who need them most. We have a list of suggested items and an Amazon Wishlist, but when in doubt – donate,” said Michelle Nostheide, executive director of the Richmond AHA.
The suggested items include healthy, shelf stable products like canned or dry beans, peanut butter, oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta, low-sodium soups and canned vegetables, and will be delivered after the heart walk to community partner pantries across the region. Last year’s effort garnered more than 1,200 pounds of donated items and the AHA is trying to expand the campaign’s footprint.
“Performance Food Group is proud to partner with the American Heart Association and support the Pack the Pantries initiative again this year,” said Scott Golden, community engagement leader at PFG. “Access to healthy foods is critical to supporting longer, healthier lives and we’re excited to have 20 area businesses already on board. By working together, we can all promote and raise awareness for this important campaign and collect much-needed healthy food options for our community.”
For those wishing to donate, boxes will be available at the following locations:
American Heart Association Office
4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Aetna
9881 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233
AT&T
4501 S Laburnum Avenue, Ste 530, Richmond, VA 23231
Clark Construction Group
5901 Richmond Henrico Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23242
2400 Old Brick Road, Ste 128, Glen Allen, VA 23060
1322 Hounslow Drive, Manakin Sabot, VA 23103
Dogtopia
3601 Cox Road, Richmond, VA 23233
EMC Mechanical
1802 Ellen Road, Richmond, VA 23230
1855 Boulevard West, Richmond, VA 23230
Long & Foster Real Estate
1100 Jefferson Green Circle, Midlothian, VA 23113
Sheltering Arms Physical Therapy
2805 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230
Starbucks Coffee
2363 Roux Street, Ste 101, Richmond, VA 23230
Summit Human Capital
1635 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230
The Market at 25th
1330 N. 25th Street, Richmond, VA 23223
Virginia Arrhythmia Consultants
1001 Boulders Parkway, Ste 110, Richmond VA, 23225
Virginia Premier
10800 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Interested in hosting a box at your business? Fill out the form at https://form.jotform.com/221924264446154
There is also a Pack the Pantries Amazon Wishlist for donating from home: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2894EOZMVHOOI?ref_=wl_share
For more information about the Richmond Heart Walk, please visit Richmondvaheartwalk.org.