Nonprofit News
This article contains excerpts from nonprofit newsletters including The Community Foundation of the New River Valley, Plenty! Farm and Food Bank, Partnership for Floyd, and First Steps.
This article contains excerpts from nonprofit newsletters including The Community Foundation of the New River Valley, Plenty! Farm and Food Bank, Partnership for Floyd, and First Steps.
The Community Foundation of the New River Valley
New River Valley organizations providing food assistance are preparing for an increase in clients. This is due to imminent changes to the federal SNAP (aka food stamp) program and the increased need that comes with the holiday season and winter months.
Here's the good news: we live in an incredibly collaborative and resilient community. We all can't do everything, but we can each do something. To support individuals and organizations:
- Give money to local and regional food programs. They are able to use the funds to buy food in bulk at discounted rates. Any amount of money helps. You will find dozens of programs listed at the link above to the food assistance directory.
- Volunteer your time. Giving even a few hours one time can be helpful if you are not able to volunteer regularly.
- Ask what food programs need. If you really want to give physical items, CALL FIRST. Ask these two questions
- What items do you currently need?
- Do you have a list of "always need" resources I can have and share? They may have just done a drive for specific items and really need other items. If you see a food drive running, look at what they have listed as needs and give those items.
4. Reach out to get involved in the NRV Thrive network, which brings together folks each month to talk about issues we are facing and problem solve together. Email Lindsey at lindseygleason@cfnrv.org to learn more.
Note: The NRV Thrive Directory is currently being updated for 2025. Find it here.
Blue Mountain School is now accepting enrollment in our Early Childhood classes, ages 2 1/2 through first grade! To schedule a tour visit our website or contact the school at contact@bluemountainschool.net or by phone: 540-745-4234
Plenty! Farm and Food Bank
This week, Plenty! partnered with Tri-Area Community Health to launch a Free Fridge in its waiting room at 140 Christiansburg Pike. Patients are invited to take what they need, “no questions asked,” Tri-Area said.
From Executive Director Shannon Hardwicke in Plenty!’s monthly newsletter:
“As the holiday season approaches, we at Plenty! want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for the incredible generosity you've shown us this year. Your kindness, whether in the form of monetary donations, or in-kind gifts, has made a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.
“Your support has helped us provide essential food and services to individuals and families in need, bringing hope and comfort to those who need it most. We're deeply grateful for your trust in our mission and for standing with us in the fight against hunger and poverty.
“As we celebrate the holiday season, we're reminded that the need for our services remains high. Your continued support is crucial in helping us meet the demand for food and other essential items. We invite you to join us in making a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve by donating on or before Giving Tuesday, which is on Dec. 2, or sharing a gift during our End of Year Giving Campaign.
“Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of others. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. We're honored to have you as part of our community.”
Learn more about Giving Tuesday online, and keep up with Plenty’s needs and news on Facebook at www.facebook.com/plentylocal. The Food Bank is located at 194 Elephant Curve Rd. Additional information can be found at www.plentyfoodpantry.org.
Andrew Blevins
210 N Locust Street
Floyd, VA 24091-2105
(540) 745-2777
Next to School House Fabrics on Route 8 in the Town of Floyd.
Partnership for Floyd
Near the end of October, Partnership for Floyd released a list of projects members have worked on throughout 2025 in its annual report (January through October):
January Planning — A large, public PFF meeting brought all sorts of Floyd folks out on an icy January evening to suggest ideas that would help our community be more resilient to changing times. Many of these ideas have been implemented and are already going strong in 2025.
Floyd Emergency Preparedness Fair was held in April at the EcoVillage. Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, Volunteer Fire Department, EMTs, New River Valley Emergency Services, the Red Cross, and other local organizations presented demonstrations, information, and panel discussions free for the community. We met and got advice from our emergency providers and even received a Floyd County Emergency Preparedness Handbook from Extension Services.
2025 Eco Update for Floyd County at the library with professors Jane Cundiff and Peter Sforza. You can find “Jane’s 2025 Eco Update” presentation on YouTube.
Floyd Rural Skills Workshops have been going strong since February. From gardening and chainsaw use to fermenting veggies, making herbal medicine, birding, attracting pollinators, wild edibles, first aid, and equipment to use on a homestead. About 40 workshops have been offered so far (mostly for free) by PFF, the Wild Garden Club, Floyd library, and local farms and businesses. Email PartnershipForFloyd@gmail.com to get PFF calendar updates or inquire about hosting a workshop.
Floyd Flower Power volunteers are working hard to help Make Floyd Bloom and make downtown a welcoming place for residents and visitors throughout the seasons. The flowers and decorations in the planters across town are all lovingly planned, decorated, and cared for every week by our volunteers.
Floyd's Get to Know Your Neighbors Campaign is reminding folks all over our county to reach out to their neighbors. This is especially important in our rural community where some services may not be easily available and neighbors can help each other.
Dodd Creek Fitness and Nature Trail is PFF’s 1.25-mile easy nature hike that features more than 20 labeled trees and eight fitness stations. Signs explain the wildflowers you might find along the trail in different seasons. The trail was built and all signs were done by PFF. The Floyd County Parks and Rec Department handles trail maintenance.
Floyd Earth Month resulted in PFF offering 200 fruit tree saplings to our community, complete with tree tubes and stakes to keep them safe. Free guided nature walks and programs at the library were offered all throughout April.
Floyd’s Water Future discussion featured a screening of “To The Last Drop,” a documentary paid for by PFF a few years back but is still quite pertinent and important to our community. Find it on YouTube and the PFF website.
For Halloween on Spooky Street, PFF distributed 1,000 packets of sunflower seeds to get Floyd families involved in planting flowers for pollinators, birds, food, and fun.
Learn more about PFF and how to volunteer at www.partnershipforfloyd.org.
Family-owned HVAC installation and services.
25 years of experience. Committed to excellence.
Financing available with approved credit.
540-745-4912
436 Floyd HWY S
First Steps: The New River Valley’s Early Childhood Education and Development Network
Fifty CTE students from high schools across the New River Valley attended New River Community College’s Early Childhood Career Day held on Tues, Oct 28, at NRCC. The conference was an opportunity to offer students an opportunity to connect with local early educators and experts as well as community organizations serving children and families in the New River Valley.
Local early care and education directors from Blue Mountain School in Floyd, NRCA Head Start, Virginia Tech’s Center for Learning and Research, and Rainbow Riders facilitated mini sessions for students to explore the topics of emergent curriculum, teacher-child interactions, environments, and resilience. Partner organizations also participated by sharing local community resources that support children and families in the New River Valley.
This was the third year hosting high school students to recruit potential future early educators and advocates to the field. The event is the result of collaboration between New River Community College's Early Childhood Development, Early Childhood Initiatives at Virginia Tech, and First Steps of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley.
Learn about First Steps and its resources online at www.cfnrv.org/first-steps.