When recent delays in SNAP benefits created unexpected hardship for families across the Mid-Ohio Valley, the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) acted quickly—providing $34,000 in immediate assistance to help local food programs meet urgent needs.
Through strategic targeted grants to local nonprofits, families received direct support when they needed it most. The grants provided a practical and timely lifeline for those struggling to keep food on the table during the delay.
This rapid response was made possible through the combined generosity of PACF’s community of givers:
• $20,000 from the Mary M. Welch Advised Fund
• $10,000 from the Mary Anne and Doug Ketelsen Charitable Fund
• $4,000 from the PACF Hunger Fund to Old Man Rivers Mission
These contributions allowed local food programs and missions to respond swiftly, ensuring that families across the region had access to essential groceries during a critical period.
As food insecurity continues to grow throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley, PACF is encouraging the community to stay engaged in addressing this ongoing challenge through its Hunger Fund — a permanently endowed field-of-interest fund established in 2018 to strengthen local food access initiatives.
Created through the generous support of caring neighbors, the Hunger Fund provides a lasting source of charitable funding for organizations working to fight hunger across PACF’s service area. Since its inception, the Hunger Fund has distributed more than $130,000 in grant support for food initiative programs to help stock food pantry shelves and support community-wide food programs.
“As a permanent charitable resource, the Hunger Fund is designed to grow and meet the evolving needs of our communities, not just today, but for generations to come,” said Amy Nahley, Senior Grants Officer for the PACF. “ It’s a powerful example of how we can come together to create lasting impact.
Community members who wish to be part of this important work can:
• Give directly to the Hunger Fund to support ongoing hunger relief efforts.
• Donate nourishing, non-perishable food items to one of the food pantries in the PACF service area. Try This West Virginia, a healthy community nonprofit, offers a comprehensive list of food pantries in each county, making it easy to find a local site to give or volunteer.
• Those in Doddridge County can support the Doddridge County Hunger and Housing Justice Fund in Honor of Janice and Jim Dugan, which addresses local food and housing needs in that community.
Together, the community can continue to show up for neighbors with care, compassion, and commitment.
