Find Food Today
If you are in urgent need of food and unable to access a pantry during operating hours, you can visit the Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA) for a one-time, emergency food allotment. RARA is located at 350 Spotswood Drive in Lexington and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (540) 463-6943 for more information.
Find Food Near You
Get Groceries
- Bridge to Hope Food Pantry: 906 Magnolia Ave. Buena Vista, VA
- Located in downtown Buena Vista, currently open once a week with a client-choice model. No one will be turned away, but must meet USDA income guidelines to access all food.
- Fairfield Presbyterian Church: Helping Hands Produce Stand: 5508 N Lee Hwy. Fairfield, VA
- Free produce distributed every Friday from 10am-12pm. Hosts the Rockbridge Mobile Food Pantry on the 3rd Friday of each month.
- Kingsway Help Center Food Pantry: 797 Spottswood Rd. Steeles Tavern, VA
- Located in Steeles Tavern, currently open on the third Wednesday of the month. No one will be turned away, but must meet USDA income guidelines to access all food.
- Natural Bridge/Glasgow Food Pantry: 734 McCulloch St. Glasgow, VA
- Located in Glasgow, open for USDA distributions on the third Thursday of every month. Open for non-USDA distributions every Saturday except the Saturday after the monthly USDA distribution.
- RARA Neighborhood Grocery in Lexington: 350 Spotswood Dr. Lexington, VA
- RARA’s Neighborhood Grocery offers a client-choice model where you can shop for yourself based on family size, dietary needs, and food preferences. The grocery is open to anyone who needs food on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2:30–4:30pm and Saturday from 10am–12pm. Curbside pickup and limited home deliveries available by appointment.
- RARA Neighborhood Grocery in Goshen: 9742 Maury River Rd. Goshen, VA
- RARA’s Neighborhood Grocery at the Goshen Community Center offers a client-choice model where you can shop for yourself based on family size, dietary needs, and food preferences. The grocery is open to anyone who needs food on Thursdays from 1–3pm.
- Rockbridge Mobile Food Pantry, RARA and Campus Kitchen W&L collaboration
- A monthly USDA food pantry that offers client choice. Each month this program makes stops in Natural Bridge Station and Fairfield. Limited home deliveries.
Get Hot Meals
- Community Café on Magnolia: 906 Magnolia Ave. Buena Vista, VA
- Bridge to Hope Food Pantry holds a free meal called Community Café on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 6pm. Bring a dish to share or just bring yourself. All are welcome. Call (540) 460-9131 for more information.
- Community Lunch at Christ Episcopal Church: 2246 Walnut Ave. Buena Vista, VA
- Free meals on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 11am-1pm. During the winter, they offer one vegetarian soup and one soup with meat with various sides of vegetables, dessert, coffee, tea, and water. Dine in or take out.
- The Community Table for the Rockbridge Area
- A restaurant without a cash-register, everyone in the community is invited to come and enjoy a home-cooked meal regardless of the ability to pay.
- Monday dinners at RARA building (350 Spotswood Drive, Lexington), 6-7pm. Dine-in only.
- Wednesday lunches at RARA building (350 Spotswood Drive, Lexington), 12-1pm. Dine-in and pick-up options.
- Friday lunches at Fairfield Presbyterian Church (5508 N Lee Hwy, Fairfield), 10am-12pm. Dine-in and pick-up options.
- A restaurant without a cash-register, everyone in the community is invited to come and enjoy a home-cooked meal regardless of the ability to pay.
- Rockbridge Connect and Nourish (CAN)
- Free, hot meals throughout Rockbridge County. There are no requirements or restrictions to join, and free transportation is available through RATS. Meals are served on an 8-week rotation in different areas, including Natural Bridge, Goshen, Glasgow, Rockbridge Baths, Buena Vista, and Effinger. Click here to view the schedule.
- VPAS Cafe with Valley Program for the Aging Services
- Serving seniors (60 and up) at three locations, join VPAS for weekly meals and programming.
- Buena Vista Cafe on Fridays at the Maury River Senior Center, 10:30am-12:30pm.
- Goshen Cafe on Mondays at the Goshen Community Center, 10:30am-12:30pm.
- Serving seniors (60 and up) at three locations, join VPAS for weekly meals and programming.
Enroll in Additional Food Programs
- Campus Kitchen’s (CKWL) Backpack Program for School Kids
- Weekly delivery of non-perishable breakfast and snack items for elementary, middle, and preschoolers. Contact school guidance counselors for more information or to sign up.
- CKWL’s Meal Delivery
- Weekly delivery of refrigerated boxed meals to Buena Vista, Lexington, and Glasgow. Contact Campus Kitchen at campuskitchen@wlu.edu or (540) 458-8784 with your name, phone number, address, and number in your household to sign up.
- Meals on Wheels
- Nutritious, healthy meals delivered to the homes of older adults who are homebound and cannot prepare such a meal for themselves. Currently serving the Cities of Buena Vista and Lexington and throughout Rockbridge County. Contact (540) 261-7474 for more information.
- Senior Food Box Program at RARA
- Monthly distribution of additional food boxes for people 60 and older. Boxes include canned vegetables/fruit, protein, pasta or cereal, juice, and cheese. Contact RARA at (540) 463-6943 or volunteer@raralex.org to sign up.
- United Rockbridge – Pay it Forward Meals
- Fully cooked meals for two delivered with napkins and utensils at a public location in Lexington, typically within 24 hours. Contact Jenny at elmesj@rockbridge.net or (540) 463-1634 to donate or request a meal.
- Unity4Kids
- Delivers meals twice per month in the Buena Vista area. Click here to request assistance.
Other Sources of Food & Help
- 211 Virginia
- When you dial 2-1-1, a trained professional listens to your situation and suggests sources of help using one of the largest databases of health and human services in Virginia.
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB)
- A member of Feeding America, BRAFB secures food from local and national sources, makes sure it is safe, and then distributes the food to hundreds of partner agencies throughout the communities they serve, including Rockbridge.
- Color Me Healthy Summer Produce Markets
- A summer program for children from RARA, CKWL, and Virginia Cooperative Extension aimed at getting fresh fruits and veggies out into our community.
- Lexington–Rockbridge Health Department
- Learn how to apply for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) through the Virginia Department of Health.
- National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs
- RARA Utilities Assistance & Housing Support
- RARA provides temporary utilities assistance for past due electric, water, and heating bills and housing support for rent or security deposits, with applications accepted by phone, Monday-Thursday from 9:30am-12pm, at (540) 463-6642. Start an application any time on the website.
- Rockbridge-Buena Vista-Lexington Area Social Services (DSS)
- Contact the local DSS office at (540) 463-7143 to learn about TANF, SNAP (food stamp benefits), fuel assistance, and more.
If you are in urgent need of food and unable to access a pantry during operating hours, you can visit the Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA) for a one-time, emergency food allotment. RARA is located at 350 Spotswood Drive in Lexington and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (540) 463-6943 for more information.
To find help outside of Rockbridge County, click here.
Questions? Call Lindsey Pérez at (540) 463-6943 or Robin Swecker at (540) 213-8413.