Nonprofits sprint to finish 2025 strong: Energy presentation, Toy Drive, and Veteran support
This article contains excerpts from the newsletters and websites of Floyd Initiative for Safe Housing (F.I.S.H.), Mountain Valor Services, and SustainFloyd.
With the winter season approaching, local nonprofits are making plans to meet the needs of the community in various ways, including through home repairs and money-saving tips, hosting a toy drive, and focusing on local veteran support.
Floyd Initiative for Safe Housing (F.I.S.H.)
FISH was established in 2017 by local volunteers in Floyd County and members often partner with Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley to address housing repairs and construction for neighbors throughout the county.
The nonprofit’s mission is to provide critical repairs for their neighbors so that everyone can live in a home that is safe, warm, and dry. Volunteers with the Floyd Initiative for Safe Housing also seek to educate Floyd County residents on the lack of available affordable housing as well as other housing needs in their community, and to advocate for solutions.
One such educational program, called “Keeping the Lights On: Affordable Energy for Our Communities,” is being held at the Christiansburg Library (125 Sheltman St.) from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20. FISH officials hope the program, which focuses on how to lower electric bills, will also be presented in Floyd sometime in the future.
Keep up with FISH and volunteers’ projects by searching “Floyd Initiative for Safe Housing - FISH” on Facebook.
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SustainFloyd
SustainFloyd is collecting toys for meaningful reuse at the Floyd Farmers Market each Saturday until Dec. 6. You can drop toys at the SustainFloyd office (during market times only please) or at the market information table. (Winter Market hours are from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., under the Community Pavilion on south Locust St..)
The group is collecting toys for two- to- 12-year olds to donate to local causes for the holiday season. Toys must be clean and in good condition in order to be accepted.
“This is a chance for your children to see the value in giving,” members said in the newsletter sent out on Monday, Nov. 17. “If they have items that are no longer at the top of their play list, or just have 'too much stuff' this is the moment to turn those toys into a welcome gift for someone else whose family may not be able to afford so many gifts.”
Remaining toys will be given away at the Farmers Market on Dec. 13.
Additionally, SustainFloyd is offering “Zero-Waste Wrapping” during Floyd Farmers Market hours on Dec. 20. The event will focus on the Furoshiki method of using cloth to wrap items and a tape-free option.
Learn more about SustainFloyd and its events and mission at www.sustainfloyd.org.
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Mountain Valor Services
“This month, Mountain Valor was honored to receive a $4,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, supporting our outreach programs for rural veterans and their families,” Executive Director Kathryn Whittenberger said in a newsletter from Nov. 14.
“We’re also deeply grateful to Chive Charities for funding our incoming wheelchair-accessible van, a game-changer for reaching veterans who can’t easily travel to resources. We're also thankful to our friends at Mission Roll Call who continually provide mentorship and problem-solving expertise.
“Your support keeps our boots on the ground — connecting veterans and caregivers across rural Virginia with the education, benefits, and community they deserve,” Whittenberger said.
Every donation directly fuels:
- Permanent staffing: moving from an all-volunteer model to a sustainable team leading programs, outreach, and case support.
- Our incoming accessible van: covering insurance, maintenance, fuel, and driver training so we can expand in-person outreach and safely transport veterans to critical appointments and events.
- Expanded outreach across rural Virginia: bringing resources directly to communities where no other veteran organizations effectively operate.
“This month alone, we’ve talked with caregivers trying to hold everything together through the holidays and elderly veterans across three counties who didn’t know they now qualify for VA healthcare with $0 copay. Those one-on-one conversations often uncover a whole range of challenges — from benefits and unsafe housing to transportation and mobility needs — and we stay with each person to walk through what help exists, whether veteran-specific or community-based.”
Learn more about Mountain Valor Services and resources to help local veterans at www.mtnvalor.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.