Hi friends, 

I actually had put off asking for food distribution money because I was nervous about Pat’s surgery yesterday. Since December she has lived with the looming surgery, postponed because of needing to be healthy enough to go under anesthesia. Pat has remained upbeat, but it was still scary. I spoke with her earlier this morning, and she sounded good– her voice firm. The doctors say that they removed all of the cancerous cells in her liver, and that she might go home tomorrow– two days earlier than predicted. 

We currently have  $247.92 in our food distribution fund– enough for a modest week. We buy in wholesale from Standard Produce, and provide food for redistribution sites in historically Black Communities of Ridge St, North Garden, and Buckingham County. A typical produce order is 8 cases of fruits/vegetables/eggs– oranges, local apples, potatoes, onions, greens, eggs, kale, collards, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, cabbage are all on our regular rotation with seasonal/celebratory add-ons. Additionally friends bring us excess food from local farms and grocery stores that might go to waste. Clothes and household goods also get distributed amongst our community. 
I hope that if you can, you will support our work. To celebrate Pat, and to support her recovery, 10% of all money received in this drive will be given directly to her for whatever is healing for her. Knowing Pat, this might mean catching up on bills, giving to others, but likely won’t actually go to any of the pampering that any of us might engage in.