God's Lunchbox was closed for a couple of month's due to heavy rains this spring, which infiltrated and overwhelmed the town's sewer lines. Numerous other properties saw damage due to stormwater run-off as well, with urban flooding and mudslides being experienced in many areas of Christiansburg.
Fortunately, the Salvation Army was able to use insurance money to clean up and reopen, salvaging this program and beginning to provide services again today. This facility at 1125 Roanoke Street serves lunches each Monday and Friday.
God's Lunchbox is located in a former Church of Christ, now home to the Salvation Army's local place of worship, just a few blocks from their Thrift Store which sits across the street from the county government center.
Public transportation currently starts in Christiansburg via the Two-Town Trolley around noon, with the current terminus of the route at the government center (meaning any riders miss meal time). There are no benches or bus shelters provided here, nor sidewalks connecting pedestrian routes from the "end of the line" to numerous nearby destinations for those with limited means.
This area of town is home to the county's Health and Human Services Building, adjacent to Roanoke Street and fronting South Pepper Street, which includes the Department of Social Services.
The nearby New River Valley Free Clinic and Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program center are both located in the same area. The Department of Rehabilitation Services is also close by, as are the United Way offices. The Montgomery County Christmas Store, in downtown's old Leggett Building, opens for a few weeks early each winter ensuring those less fortunate can participate in a dignified way during this season of cheer.
There are three HUD assisted apartment communities and several mobile home parks nearby as well, serving lower income individuals and families in addition to a large number of individual rental properties managed by various companies. Two additional HUD facilities are also located near the Depot and Franklin Street area, close to downtown.
Christiansburg was accepting public comment through today on using some CDBG entitlement funds to repair or extend nearby sidewalks. While the funds have been available for several years, this is the first time Council has taken action to access them -- and the need appears to be present, helping link these services to those in need.
Council will discuss a new mass transit system at next Tuesday's meeting, resuming discussions on options for a funded expansion of this service in partnership with Blacksburg Transit.
So while student populations at nearby Radford and Virginia Tech may skew income and age demographics for the county, it is clear the Roanoke Street corridor in Christiansburg has a significant number of agencies serving both the town and county's financially at-risk community.
These local needs are mirrored by the number of free or reduced lunches served in public schools that are located within the town's borders. These students also benefit from numerous civic, church and daycare programs which help assure our local children eat healthy even in hard times.
(Unfortunately, this demographic is something which has been noted by some predatory lending companies -- as there are more than a half dozen car title and pay-day lenders along this stretch of the road.)
See also: Stimulus Package Provides $100 Million in Extra Food For Struggling Foodbanks (so it's not just "regular" banks that got stimulated, and greatly needed in a state that turned down extended unemployment insurance benefits).
Read more about God's Lunchbox noon-time program here.