Charlottesville Food Pantries Reopen After Snow Storm Closures

Loaves and Fishes Pantry and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank work to restock and resume services following record-breaking distribution ahead of winter weather.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 5:55pm

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Food pantries in Charlottesville, Virginia, including Loaves and Fishes Pantry and those supported by the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, were forced to temporarily close their doors over the past week due to a major snowstorm that depleted their supplies. Now, they are working to reopen and restock in order to resume normal operations and serve community members in need.

Why it matters

The temporary closures of these vital food assistance organizations left many low-income residents without access to essential food and supplies during the severe winter weather, highlighting the importance of these pantries and the challenges they face in maintaining operations during extreme conditions.

The details

Loaves and Fishes Pantry, which had a record-breaking 337 households (1,500 people) turn to them for help just before the storm, was forced to close on Saturday due to safety concerns for staff and volunteers. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, which supplies many local pantries, also faced logistical challenges in getting food distributed during the weather event. Other organizations like Meals on Wheels were closed all week due to the accumulation of ice.

  • On Thursday, January 26, Loaves and Fishes Pantry had a record-breaking 337 households (1,500 people) turn to them for help ahead of the storm.
  • Loaves and Fishes Pantry closed on Saturday, January 28 due to the winter storm.
  • Loaves and Fishes Pantry reopened on Tuesday, January 27.

The players

Jane Colony Mills

Runs Loaves and Fishes Pantry in Charlottesville.

Les Sinclair

Spokesperson for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

H Peterson

Executive director of Meals on Wheels in Charlottesville.

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What they’re saying

“We were able to reopen yesterday and only had 104 households. And I think it's because people can't get out. I think they're, you know, they're still stuck in wherever they are.”

— Jane Colony Mills, Runs Loaves and Fishes Pantry

“At the heart of it, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is a logistics organization. There's plenty of food available here at the warehouse. It is just a matter of getting it from one place to the other and making sure that it's accessible.”

— Les Sinclair, Spokesperson, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

“Many people are making impossible choices. You know, do I heat my apartment or home or do I eat?”

— Les Sinclair, Spokesperson, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

“The accumulation of ice has been what has been so detrimental to our services.”

— H Peterson, Executive director of Meals on Wheels in Charlottesville

“Check on the people that are living next to you, make sure that they have what they need, do what you can.”

— H Peterson, Executive director of Meals on Wheels in Charlottesville

What’s next

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and local pantries like Loaves and Fishes will continue working to restock and resume full operations in the coming days as the weather improves and roads become more passable.

The takeaway

This situation underscores the vital role that food pantries and assistance organizations play in supporting vulnerable members of the community, especially during times of extreme weather and crisis. It also highlights the logistical challenges these groups face in maintaining services under such conditions.