Farms Work Wonders
as it will prove to be a revenue generator that produces unrestricted funds ,” says Koegler .
Founded in 1981 in response to growing concerns over statewide food insecurity , Mountaineer Food Bank was one of the first members of Feeding America , a national organization working to end hunger . It originally served the state from a small warehouse in Gassaway , WV , that was less than 5,000 square feet , distributing approximately 1.6 million meals annually . In 1996 , the organization moved to its current location off I-79 in Gassaway that is 23,000 square feet , distributing between 3-4 million meals annually . Today , the food bank distributes almost 20 million meals each year .
Mountaineer Food Bank recognizes the gaps in access and in its infrastructure .
“ The food bank model is built on being able to secure foods from all across the country and reach communities in every part of the state ,” says Chad Morrison , chief executive officer of Mountaineer Food Bank . “ In order to do this , the food bank is expanding the capacity of its Gassaway facility by 60,000 square feet to be able to receive and distribute an additional 10 million meals annually by 2029 .”
The food bank works to fight food insecurity and food deserts in many different ways , but all approaches fall under two main categories : feeding West Virginians and empowering communities to end hunger .
“ Through the feeding category , we primarily provide food to more than 460 local feeding programs , which
In 2016 , the vision to establish a small nonprofit farm in the quaint town of Wardensville , WV , began to take shape , with the goal of employing 10 local youth . What began as just a few crates filled with potatoes and dried herbs soon blossomed into something much bigger . By the end of the year , Farms Work Wonders had become a well-known tourist attraction .
“ As community interest grew , so did we ,” says Jason Smith , managing director of Farms Work Wonders . “ This momentum allowed us to transform our farm stand into a thriving market in the historic Frye Farmhouse .”
Today , Farms Work Wonders includes Lewis Farm , a diversified , certified organic vegetable and pasturebased livestock farm ; Wardensville Garden Market , an on-farm market featuring goods produced from Farms Work Wonders ’ other businesses and pantry goods from other farmers , small businesses and makers ; Dakota Glass Works , a state-of-the-art glassblowing studio dedicated to promoting and preserving the historic West Virginian art of glassblowing ; Mack ’ s Bingo Bakery , a from-scratch bakery utilizing seasonal fruit and produce to create sweet and savory delicacies that represent the region ; and Mack ’ s Bingo Kitchen , an American restaurant using seasonal ingredients from Farms Work Wonders ’ organic farm and other nearby farms and purveyors .
Farms Work Wonders indirectly addresses food insecurity by increasing local food production , employing over 100 people , donating to the local food bank and educating the community about seasonal and small-scale production .
“ Being in a food desert , we understand the limited food choices in rural areas ,” Smith says . “ By providing fresh , seasonal foods , we aim to improve food availability in our area , though we recognize this is a broader issue our communities will continue to face .”
The organization ’ s guiding star is its mission : to ignite the spark of curiosity in Appalachian youth so they see themselves and their futures in new and exciting ways .
“ We believe that youth have inherent interests , which we call sparks ,” Smith says . “ By helping them discover these sparks and pairing them with supportive relationships and opportunities , we believe that youth can identify their unique contributions to the world and thrive .”
Photo by Farms Work Wonders .
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