84 Lumber Spotlight's "Hunger Awareness Month" With $15,000 Gift to Mountaineer Food Bank

Building materials supplier spreads early holiday spirit by gifting 150,000 meals for communities in W. Va.

September is “Hunger Awareness Month,” and 84 Lumber is helping shine a spotlight on that. Top photo, pictured from left: Matt Mcdonie and Joe Camp from 84 Lumber; Tim Griffin and Breanna George from Mountaineer Food Bank; Shawn Cochran, Robert West Kelly Bridges, and Amy Albright from the US Forest Service, Monongahela National Forest.

— Photo courtesy of 84 Lumber

In a move to help shine a spotlight on September being “Hunger Awareness Month,” 84 Lumber, one of the nation's largest private building materials suppliers, has donated $15,000 to Mountaineer Food Bank, a member of Feeding America.

As the presenting sponsor of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, which is being harvested from West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, 84 Lumber has also delivered an early Christmas gift to families in Randolph County, according to a company news release on September 22.

Every year since 1964, a different national forest has been selected to provide a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. Its nickname, the 'People's Tree,' reflects the nickname for the White House and the U.S. House of Representatives: the 'People's House.' 84 Lumber will be among those tracking the tree's journey from West Virginia to Washington, D.C.

The $15,000 check was presented to Mountaineer Food Bank by 84 Lumber Elkins store manager Matt Mcdonie on September 20.

"As a presenting sponsor of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, 84 Lumber is honored to bring an early Christmas gift to the local community," said Mcdonie. "We are excited that this donation will serve many people right here in Randolph County, especially during this special time of year."

Mountaineer Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, believes in a West Virginia where no one goes to bed hungry – today or tomorrow.

"The Food Bank is the largest emergency food provider in West Virginia, serving families, children, seniors, veterans, and individuals at risk of hunger," said Breanna George, chief development officer, Mountaineer Food Bank. "Annually, MFB distributes over 17 million meals to food-insecure neighbors in 48 of the 55 counties."

Officials with Mountaineer Food Bank said this time of year is a particularly tough time for families struggling to get by.

"This is the time of year when most nonprofits see an increase in need for local families, and we are grateful for partners like 84 Lumber," said George. "This generous gift will provide 150,000 meals ahead of holiday need."

After stopping at 84 Lumber's Elkins location, Mountaineer Food Bank's local mobile pantry went on to a scheduled stop at the Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elkins. The mobile pantry provides food in "food deserts," where food accessibility is limited or scarce.

Mobile pantries can provide a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and baked goods to people in need and feed between 100 and 1,000 households.

For more information, visit 84lumber.com.