SERVING THOSE IN NEED NUMBER OF HUNGRY INCREASES IN NEW RIVER, BUT SO DO

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 7, 1992                   TAG: 9201070037
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
SERVING THOSE IN NEED NUMBER OF HUNGRY INCREASES IN NEW RIVER, BUT SO DO
RADFORD - As layoffs and a sluggish economy continue, the number of hungry people in the New River Valley grows. Luckily, efforts to help feed needy families also are increasing.
A new hot meals program, modeled after Pulaski Daily Bread, should begin offering free lunches to needy people in the Radford area by April.
"We feel the need is there," said Maureen Weyer, a co-chairman working to make the Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread a reality. "It's not noticeable to many people, but it is there."
The program will serve free lunches 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each weekday for "anyone who needs food and companionship," Weyer said, adding that this is an ecumenical program.
Impetus for the program was the closing of AT&T's Fairlawn plant in 1990. Volunteers and some members of the Radford-Fairlawn Ministerial Association of 29 churches got together last April after the closing put thousands out of work.
"People were in need and they were asking for food," said the Rev. Tom Magri, pastor of St. Jude Catholic Church and chairman of the ministerial association, which offers support to the meals project.
"Several members were aware of Pulaski Daily Bread, saw the need in their own community and moved on forming a solution to the problem," he said.
Daily Bread committee members began looking for a location and checked out 40 or 50 sites before space at the Church of God In Christ in Radford was offered last fall. Weyer said the Russell Avenue church was the only one to offer.
Renovations will soon be underway once the Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread gets incorporation and non-profit status for fund raising and liability purposes.
"Everything is going smoothly, but there are obstacles to get across," said Daily Bread Co-Chairman Jerry Higgins, an engineer and manager with the Blacksburg, Christiansburg, VPI Water Authority. "It's incredible how much time this is actually taking."
Higgins is working on several projects for the program, including the lease agreement, title searches, tax liens and non-profit status. It takes time and patience and "you've got to gear up to do it properly," he said. "You have to take it one step at a time."
Pulaski Daily Bread, for example, has served 100,000 hot meals since opening in 1987. This year, the food program was made available to more than 110 people a day, about a third more than last year.
"There are so many people in desperate situations right now," said Lynda Semones, director of Pulaski Daily Bread. "The economy has been so depressed in our area, but those fortunate to have something share it."
Semones' group has been helping the Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread with organization, equipment purchases and funding - "We're catipulting them into the program," she said.
She emphasized that neither program is a soup kitchen, where food is usually served cafeteria style. Instead, food at the Daily Bread operations is served restaurant style by waiters and waitresses.
An open-door policy is maintained and everyone is welcomed, no matter what their circumstances. No one asks any questions.
"But we only touch those who can walk here," Semones said recently. "This program doesn't even pretend to reach those in the county who can't get here."
Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army and New River Community Action are a few of the agencies that try to help the hundreds of others who need substantial meals.
"We're all so pleased and proud to be getting this underway," Magri said. "It's becoming increasingly clear that this is a timely and needed project."

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB