Rep Cline sees Feeding Southwest Virginia’s Mobile Marketplace in action

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Congressman Ben Cline traveled to Roanoke on Thursday afternoon to see the Feeding Southwest Virginia Mobile Marketplace in action.

“They created this mobile marketplace for healthy produce, which I’ve been advocating for many years since I was at State House, when I worked with First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, wife of Terry McAuliffe, to create a tax credit allowing farmers to donate. their products to food banks,” Cline said.

Cline was pleased to be able to shine a light on the partnerships that make all of this work possible.

“This effort requires ingenuity and creativity from federal, state and local governments, nonprofits, churches, etc. It’s a community effort and they’re doing a great job.”

“These relationships are important. Part of our new job is to spark conversations between our neighbors and our elected officials, as you see here today, all the other collaborative partners. Learning from our neighbors, what their challenges are and then being able to find a way to work together to solve them,” said Pamela Irvine, president and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia.

The mobile marketplace allows people to use SNAP and EBT benefits to receive fresh produce and other items.

“Hear our Farmers Market shopping today that we buy locally from farmers, they can double their SNAP benefits here today by shopping here, along with the other groceries. It’s hugely important, SNAP is important, food banks can’t do it all,” Irvine said.

Cline said he would continue to champion these types of programs in the future. For more information on Feeding Southwest Virginia Mobile Marketplace, you can find their website here.

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