Chad Morrison, Executive Director of Mountaineer Food Bank, has highlighted significant challenges the organization faces due to current economic conditions.
Morrison explained that available resources have been decreasing. “We’re entering a phase where many of the resources we’ve relied on over the past few years have shifted. People are hesitant to donate due to financial uncertainties and economic pressures, making fundraising for these programs particularly challenging this year,” he stated during an interview on MetroNews Midday.
“It’s a substantial challenge we need to overcome,” he added.
In 2024, local food banks and organizations affiliated with Mountaineer Food Bank distributed nearly 30 million pounds of food. Morrison indicated that reaching this amount in 2025 might be difficult, as corporate donations have significantly decreased.
“Our corporate donation figures have been severely impacted over the past year or 18 months,” Morrison noted. “I believe what’s happening is that many companies are being more cautious with their finances while also facing numerous requests for support. I understand this situation since there’s considerable need and limited budgeted funds available.”
Morrison emphasized that the reduction in donations places the food bank in a difficult position. “When we don’t receive food through commodity programs or donations, we must either purchase it or go without,” he explained. “Our organization is committed to ensuring people don’t go hungry, but this requires significant funding to continue buying food.”
Despite the decrease in donations compared to periods when prices were lower, Morrison stressed that the need remains substantial in West Virginia.
“We know that one in six residents in West Virginia are experiencing food insecurity, with many being among our most vulnerable populations – children, seniors, and veterans,” he concluded.
— news from WV MetroNews
— News Original —
GASSAWAY, W.Va. — Mountaineer Food Bank Executive Director Chad Morrison says the non-profit is facing a slew of challenges with the current economic climate.
He says the resources flowing in are becoming limited.
“We’re entering a space where a lot of the resources that we’ve had over the last couple years have shifted. People are a little scared to give because of financial uncertainties and the economic impacts, so it’s been a challenging year in fundraising to support these programs,” Morrison said on MetroNews Midday.
“It’s a very large hill that we have to climb,” he continued.
In 2024, almost 30 million pounds of food was distributed by local food banks and organizations that are aligned with Mountaineer Food Bank.
That number will likely be hard to reach in 2025, as Morrison says corporate donations have also been noticeably down.
“Our corporate donation line item has just been shattered the last year or 18 months, Morrison said. “I think what’s happening is a lot of those companies are holding their checkbooks a little tighter to the chest, but they’re also being asked by everybody. I understand that because there’s so much need out there and there’s only so many dollars they have budgeted.”
Morrison says a lack of donations puts the bank in a tough spot.
“What happens whenever we don’t have food that’s coming through commodity programs or donations is we have to buy it or we go without,” Morrison said. “With our organization, we don’t want to have people to go without, but it takes a lot of funding to be able to continue to buy food.”
While donations may not be flowing in as much as when prices were down, Morrison says the need is still there in the Mountain State.
“We know that one in six people in West Virginia are struggling with hunger and many of those are our most vulnerable populations. Those are children, those are seniors and those are our veterans.”