Salem, VA., 2023 – Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, is partnering with Feeding
America and Feeding Southwest Virginia to immediately help provide meals to Southwest
Virginians in need and build long-term technology solutions to scale its impact and provide
the community with greater access to resources.
This announcement is part of a larger initiative from Google.org and Feeding America to
help provide 50 million meals* to communities across the United States.
Today, 34 million Americans, including 9 million children, are facing food insecurity. Among
Feeding America network food banks, 90 percent report an increased or sustained need
over the last month. Food banks themselves face mounting headwinds as food donations
decline and costs rise for freight, food purchase, and every other aspect of operations.
Feeding Southwest Virginia has seen this need firsthand.
“With inflation increasing the cost of everyday expenses, our neighbors are turning to food
banks more than ever. Many are forced to make the impossible choice of rent, medicine or
utilities instead of food, which is a decision no one should have to make,” said Pamela
Irvine, President and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia. “We are thankful for partners
like Google.org and Feeding America that not only provide operating support to help
reduce hunger in Southwest Virginia but also understand the critical role technology
investments have on our ability to provide for our neighbors who are food insecure.”
Nationally, Google sees a spike in searches for food support every November, but more
than ever before, Americans made searches around “food” and “prices” in 2022. They also
searched “how to give back” more than ever, with searches for “where to donate food near
me” skyrocketing 850 percent over the past five years.
Immediate Release“Addressing food insecurity requires a sustained and coordinated approach. We’re proud to
partner with Feeding America to deliver over 50 million meals to people in need, and to work
with them to strengthen their technology infrastructure,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google
and Alphabet. “We’re also making our products, like Search and Maps, more helpful to people
searching for resources or ways to give back.”
“It takes a community to impact a community,” Irvine said, “That is why we are thankful for
Google.org’s grant to help us nourish neighbors here in Southwest Virginia. On behalf of the
food-insecure neighbors in our region, I thank you for your generosity.”
For more information about Feeding Southwest Virginia, visit https://www.feedingswva.org/
About Feeding Southwest Virginia
Feeding Southwest Virginia is a member of Feeding America®. For the last four decades, the
Food Bank’s ultimate mission has been to: nourish neighbors, engage community partners,
and develop solutions to address food insecurity. The primary function of the Food Bank is to
secure and distribute large quantities of food for our neighbors. Approximately $30 million
worth of food and grocery-related products are channeled annually through more than 370
food pantries and meal programs in our 26-county, 9-city region. Visit www.feedingswva.org
for more information or like us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @feedingswva.
About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a
network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000
partner agencies, food pantries, and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to
tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that
prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to
the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates
for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us
on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
About Google.org
Google.org, Google’s philanthropy, brings the best of Google to help solve some of humanity’s
biggest challenges combining funding, product donations, and technical expertise to support
underserved communities and provide an opportunity for everyone. We engage nonprofits and
social enterprises who make a significant impact on the communities they represent, and
whose work has the potential to produce meaningful change. We want a better world, faster
— and we believe in leveraging technology and applying scalable data-driven innovation to
move the needle.
