A bank is only as strong as its depositors and how much they put in.

Even though there’s no high interest rates or online statements, the same philosophy applies to food banks and distribution sites, which arguably have a much larger impact on people than financial institutions do.

These food banks and their volunteers serve thousands of people that live in Buckingham, Cumberland, Farmville, Dillwyn and Prince Edward.

These people — our friends, neighbors, colleagues and family members — depend daily on this food and volunteers’ hard work, which equates to clearer minds and healthier bodies.

There are numerous organizations and churches scattered across the area that rely on canned goods, non-perishables and frozen goods to keep their clients’ bellies full.

“Absolutely,” responded food pantry organizer Craig McPherson, of Buckingham, when asked if food banks were important to rural communities.

Many of the hungry in this community are not only working-poor adults, but young children. In poorer households, many of which don’t qualify for government assistance, a child’s best, most nutritious meal is breakfast or lunch at school.

And when school is closed, such as on holidays and weekends, that’s when your deposits into community food banks or distribution sites make all the difference. “Sometimes that’s the only food they get,” McPherson said of kids eating at school.

“Number one, you’ve got to think of the kids and the seniors,” said McPherson. He said he helped one elderly gentleman who was living on five meals a week from Meals on Wheels. “He was starting to become malnourished,” McPherson said.

The more we withdraw, the more we’ve got to put back in. There’s no doubt about that. Because of the economy, more middle-class families are in need of these goods and services.

If many hands come together, it really doesn’t take a lot to make a big difference in this community. For example, when you’re doing your weekly shopping, buy two extra cans of peas, or an extra frozen turkey when the holidays get closer and carry them down the road to the church or building that houses the nearest food bank or distribution site.

Local businesses should also participate. Wal-Mart of Farmville recently donated $20,000 to FACES to help them purchase more food for the hungry.

Common items that pantries often need are canned fruit, meat, fish and noodles, cereal, peanut butter, snacks and juice. Food banks all across our area need these staples, but, more importantly, they need our consistent support all year long.

Not just the smaller ones, but even the larger food banks are in constant need, such as the Central Virginia Food Bank which services FACES, Farmville’s largest food distributor and others like it in Cumberland and Prince Edward counties.

And when you give back, say, volunteer at a food bank for a few hours, be proud of your work. Take a photo with you and your friends, share it and encourage others to help too. It’s contagious to do good and spread joy through acts of volunteerism.

At many food banks, the expenditures are becoming larger than the deposits, and it’s going to take all of us to keep the books balanced with our donations, time and energy.

Because of the way things are in our world today, there will always be a constant need for more food and volunteers for these agencies. And by donating or volunteering regularly, you’ll find a constant satisfaction of helping others survive through their battles with hunger.

It’s a cause worth fighting for and one we can win through helping our local food banks.

JORDAN MILES is a staff writer for The Farmville Herald. His email address is jordan.miles@farmvilleherald.com.