The following content is created in consultation with Michael & Son. It does not reflect the work or opinions of NBC Washington's editorial staff. To learn more about Michael & Son, visit MichaelandSon.com.
One of the last places most people would expect to find food insecurity is in Haymarket, Virginia. Situated between our nation’s capitol and the Shenandoah Mountains, Haymarket is a quiet and affluent suburban community and is more known for its rural quaintness and country clubs rather than families dealing with food insecurity.
However, show up to the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry on any given Saturday morning and you’ll see a different side of the community. Before the doors open, the lines have already formed. Families from every walk of life wait patiently to receive everything from locally grown organic produce to farm raised beef and poultry. Quality, nutritious food is what sets the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry apart from the organizations in the area, and that’s all made possible by generous local business and farmers.
None of the services provided by the food pantry would be possible without the help of the volunteers who take time out of their busy schedules to lend a hand in their community. A testament to their dedication was the fact that the food pantry had no running water, working toilets or the electrical capacity to handle the many freezers and appliances needed to run the operation. Earlier in the year, Home Depot had pledged to donate all the supplies for the electrical and plumbing work but needed a company to volunteer instillation services. Enter the Michael & Son Cares Program.
The Michael & Son Cares Program got its start in 2011 by helping families and not for profit organizations with essential home repairs they couldn't afford. After a few phone calls and meetings, Michael & Son Services was onsite in Haymarket restoring water services, installing toilets and upgrading the electrical panel. Within a matter of days, the volunteers had the relative comforts of home and an increased capacity for storing perishables, something the food pantry desperately needed.
All of the work done by the Michael & Son Cares Program is documented and shown on NBC’s “Helping Hands”.
If you would like to discuss the Cares Program or Helping Hands with the Cares Team or their recipients, please contact Shadi Tahrawi at (571) 237-8209 or shadi.tahrawi@michaelandson.com.
Also, like Michael & Son on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube page to stay on top of all the Helping Hands updates.
