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Two local nonprofits are teaming up to help provide nutritious meals to the area’s most vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Farmville Area Community Emergency Services (FACES) food pantry and Piedmont Senior Resources (PSR) are planning to work together to send meals to seniors in Cumberland, Charlotte and Prince Edward counties twice a month.

The partnership was inspired by a recent teleconference held by area nonprofits. The organizations got together to discuss concerns and challenges brought about by the current crisis caused by COVID-19.

During discussions, PSR Executive Director Justine Young highlighted that the organization primarily serves seniors who already have health issues and are often restricted to their homes. Any panic during the pandemic may make obtaining basic supplies, food and medicine an even greater struggle for seniors.

FACES President Ellery Sedgwick pointed out that PSR already delivers frozen meals to seniors in FACES’ outlying areas, and that the food pantry, which recently relocated to a larger building with more storage capacity, could help to add fresh produce and other food staples to PSR’s deliveries.

Young noted that although the two organizations have worked together in the past, the current partnership will be a great resource for seniors during these difficult times.

“We thought that with FACES being able to add the fresh produce to the meals that we deliver, it would give them the ability to have access to even more food and fresh vegetables,” Young said in reference to the older adults to whom PSR delivers.

Here Is How You Can Help

Community members who wish to help pay for the additional cost of food can donate online at www.psraaa.org/support-us.

Sedgwick noted in an interview with The Herald that the food pantry has moved to adopt a drive-through food pickup strategy during its normal Saturday food distributions amid COVID-19 concerns.

The drive-through pickup will require traffic control, and local police will assist.

He said that the new method will allow recipients to obtain food without leaving their car. The food pantry will also extend its hours, assuring that individuals who arrive by 11:30 a.m. will still be served.

The new strategy will mean an increase in the need for volunteers for FACES. The food pantry will need help both with the drive-through food distribution and the bagging of food and children’s backpacks from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

Individuals can contact Bobby Eiban at (434) 395-0038 to volunteer.

Sedgwick also noted that FACES is able to purchase food from the FeedMore Food Bank at greatly reduced prices, and that money donated to the food pantry will be much more helpful than food donations.

Donations to FACES can be made by logging on to www.facesfoodpantry.com/donate.