Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry
Serving the greater Blacksburg & McCoy communities.
Serving our Neighbors with Compassion Since 1987
Since 1987, the Interfaith Food Pantry has been serving families in the Blacksburg and McCoy communities with compassion and care. Operated entirely by volunteers, the Pantry relies on generous cash and food donations to meet the needs of local families.
What began as a small, one-day-a-week operation serving just 19 families has grown into a 10,000-square-foot facility that now opens four days a week, providing support to several hundred families each month. Our growth reflects the strength and generosity of this community — neighbors coming together to help neighbors.
Our Mission
The Interfaith Food Pantry exists to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. We believe that access to food is a basic human right and that by working together, we can provide relief and dignity to those experiencing food insecurity. Every bag of groceries and every smile shared at the Pantry is a reminder that we are stronger when we care for each other.
Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry's 2nd Annual Just One Can Food Drive will take place from March 16th - March 31st.
How We Serve
Food Distribution
We are a customer choice pantry meaning we allow our customers to shop as if they were in a grocery store. We offer food to families, seniors, and individuals in need, with an emphasis on fresh produce and nutritious staples. Each customer or family receives enough food to last about 7 days and are able to visit once a month as needed.
Community Support
Beyond food, we provide a welcoming space where families feel respected, valued, and connected. In addition, we provide children’s books, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and personal healthcare products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, and bar soap.
Volunteer-Driven
From stocking shelves to greeting families at the door, our operations are run entirely by volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, and hearts to our mission. Our volunteers escort customers as they shop, organize our warehouse area, pick up food orders from local grocery stores and restaurants, and clean the Pantry. Our Pantry has a Director and an all-volunteer Advisory Board consisting of local citizens who are deeply committed to addressing hunger issues in our community.
Our History
The Interfaith Food Pantry began in 1987 as a grassroots collaboration among local churches including Blacksburg United Methodist Church, Church on Main, St. Mary’s Catholic Church and community members. At that time, volunteers worked out of a small space for just a few hours each week, helping fewer than two dozen families.
Over the decades, as our community grew and the need for food assistance increased, so did our commitment. Led by T. Marshall Hahn, previous President of Virginia Tech, along with support from individual donors, we’ve expanded to a state-of-the-art facility that enables us to serve hundreds of families every month. Today we are supported by over 25 faith-based communities. What hasn’t changed since our beginning is our belief in dignity, respect, and compassion for everyone who walks through our doors.
