The annual food drive and fundraiser runs from November 30th to December 31st to help communities in Richmond facing food insecurity during the holiday season. Bon Air, VA: A Healthy Smile, a dental services company based in Bon Air, has announced a partnership with RVA Periodontics & Dental Implant Center and Feed More, a community kitchen based in Richmond and food preparation and distribution organization serving Central Virginia to host their annual food drive that started on Wednesday, November 30th and will run through Saturday, December 31st.
The annual food drive is the company’s effort to contribute to feeding the community, particularly during the harsh holiday season. Food insecurity in the Richmond community is a serious problem that often leaves many households without sufficient food, especially in the winter. According to Feed More, as many as one in every nine people in Central Virginia are food insecure. This means about 165,000 people are facing hunger besides the winter cold.
A Healthy Smile strives to live true to its mission to provide solutions that keep its neighbors smiling. However, considering the harsh economy, an ever-rising number of people need more than dental services just to smile. By holding an annual food drive, the team at A Healthy Smile is doing as much as it can to mitigate hunger and promote food security during the holidays.
Food Insecurity Affecting Children the Most
A Healthy Smile and RVA Periodontics & Dental Implant Center understands that food insecurity is one of the greatest challenges that will greatly impact the state’s future. Presently, one in six, or about 50,500 children in Central Virginia, are not eating enough or not getting sufficient nutrients that promote healthy growth in their food.
While Richmond is a city known for its abundance of vision and culinary culture, it has had a hard time shedding its diversity challenges that have left some communities neglected. As members of the community, A Healthy Smile and RVA Periodontics & Dental Implant Center are hosting the food drive and fundraiser in collaboration with Feed More to mitigate food scarcity in the community during the holiday season.
“Richmond has always had a high rate of food insecurity,” Dr. Wanda Hall of A Healthy Smile said during the launch of the annual food drive, “In 2018, the rate of food insecurity was 15.8%. You can only imagine how bad the situation has gotten, especially due to the effects of the pandemic and the deteriorating state of the economy. This is a problem that everyone in the community, especially local businesses, cannot afford to ignore.”
Feed More Doing A Lot More to Feed More
At the center of the food drive and fundraiser is Feed More, a local kitchen better known for its commitment to collecting, preparing, and distributing food to those in need throughout Central Virginia.
Feed More serves a large area of Central Virginia, covering 34 counties and cities via a network of over 270 agencies. The organization has comprehensive food delivery and feeding programs that have helped communities access healthy meals all year round since it was founded in 2008. Feed More is a proud member of Meals on Wheels America and Feeding America.
Presently, Feed More has over 100 full-time and part-time staff and volunteers who work quietly round the clock to ensure food gets to those who need it. The organization’s mission is to feed more people, and they do so in a caring and compassionate manner.
So far, they have successfully encouraged individuals and businesses such as A Healthy Smile and RVA Periodontics & Dental Implant Center to donate their time, talents, funds, and even food to their mission. They attribute their success to teamwork and commitment to a cause to care for a neighbor in need.
In their partnership with A Healthy Smile and RVA Periodontics & Dental Implant Center, Feed More aims to bring both businesses and individuals into the fold to feed the communities in need in Richmond.
Community and Volunteers Encouraged to Help
At the launch of the food drive and fundraiser, Dr. Hall, the team leader at A Healthy Smile, encouraged their supporters and current and prospective customers in Richmond and anywhere in Central Virginia to support their drive in any way they can.
“Food insecurity has disproportionately affected low-income minorities of the city,” she said, “and today, as many as 24% of Richmond’s population is currently facing food insecurity, including those who were safe from it just a few years ago. Everyone can do something to help a neighbor, and Feed More has proven it. Contributing to this cause is giving back to the community that really needs you now.”
At the launch of the drive, Feed More listed items that well-wishers can donate either by dropping their donations off at A Healthy Smile’s offices or donating directly to Feed More. The items anyone can donate include:
- Peanut Butter
- Lean Canned Proteins
- Canned Vegetables
- Canned Fruit
- Tomato Products
- Beans
- Whole Grain Cereal
- Whole Grains
- Healthy Snacks
- Condiments
- Oils
- Spices
Feed More, and the organizers of the food drive also accept non-perishable and prepackaged food donations. However, food items in glass containers are not accepted.
How Virginians Can Help
Residents of Richmond and Virginia, in general, can play a role in helping children and other people in Richmond facing hunger by donating food items directly to A Healthy Smile, RVA Periodontics & Dental Implant Center, or Feed More. To contribute to the fundraiser efforts, Feed More encourages donations online.
About A Healthy Smile
A HEALTHY SMILE is a Woman Owned Business in historic Bon Air, Virginia. Dr. Wanda Hall is from New York and trained here at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. She has extensive training in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Dr. Hall served as adjunct faculty at VCU School of Dentistry. She continued her training at VCU School of Allied health, receiving a Certificate in Aging Studies. Dr. Hall is certified in Invisalign, Itero scanning, Dentsply Sirona Cerec, and Glidewell IO for same-day crowns, Lasers, and implant restorations. She continues her love of learning new techniques with continuing education courses and certifications.
A HEALTHY SMILE pride itself in being a family-oriented practice while also showcasing a highly accomplished doctor.
