MOUNTAINEER FOOD BANK IN SURVIVAL MODE

(03/18/2015)
Julie Harris, a member of the board of directors for the Mountaineer Food Bank in Gassaway told state media she believes the facility has been pulled back from the brink of closing its doors.

The food bank, which serves 48 counties, has been facing closure with a debt of about $230,000.

Last week the board of directors fired the food bank executive director saying they could not afford his salary, leaving others on the payroll to assumed his duties.

"Through the efforts of a lot of people across the state and generous contributions, we are able to make payroll and we're able to keep the doors open," said Harris.

Harris and other members of the current board were assigned to their positions last August by Braxton County Circuit Court, after which the board did an audit of the books and found a massive debt.

The new board discovered the food bank was out of compliance with the national group Feeding America and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.

The board took the agency out of receivership and has worked to shore up the relationship with stakeholders.

"Our absolute goal, obviously is to feed hungry West Virginians, but we are looking to be an agency that is transparent," said Harris. "I'm not sure that's always been the agency's culture."

Harris noted one area which many did not realize, the cost of transportation. Mountaineer Food Bank trucks are traveling about 5,000 miles a month to make deliveries at a very high cost.

"We are here to serve the hungry people in this state," said Harris.