"Food insecurity is a significant issue regionally; too many individuals and families experience hunger," said Judy Sjostedt, the PACF's Executive Director. "Our area's data shows a great need to improve the Foundation's grant resources, so we can better meet essential human needs and improve family and economic stability to relieve conditions of poverty. Our broad service area's overall poverty rates exceed the West Virginia State average and are well beyond the national rate, but statistics for children under 18 are even more compelling. Looking at the seven counties for which the PACF is the only community foundation funder -- Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, and Wood – poverty rates in five far exceed the State's rate for young children."

Created in 2018, the PACF's Hunger Fund began with generous support from many donors. In addition to building this important charitable fund, the PACF has held partnership meetings since 2016 with the various area organizations working to address this need, to help identify gaps in service and new resources, and to identify ways in which its leadership can be applied to address this critical community issue.