Community Foundation of the Virginias Awards $5,000 Grant to SWCC’s Food for Thought Pantry 

CEDAR BLUFF, VA — The Southwest Virginia Community College’s (SWCC) Food for Thought student food pantry has received a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. Their support will help address food insecurity among students during the 2025–2026 academic year. 

The Food for Thought pantry provides barrier-free access to food and personal care items for SWCC students, many of whom face financial challenges that can hinder their academic success. In the 2023–2024 academic year, 78% of SWCC students enrolled in financial aid-eligible programs received some form of financial assistance. Rising costs for housing, transportation, and other essentials have increased demand for the pantry, which served approximately 700 students last year. 

“This grant from the Community Foundation of the Virginias will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students,” said Susan Lowe, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at SWCC. “By helping to alleviate food insecurity, we’re enabling students to focus on their education and completing their programs.” 

The Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., a grantmaking public charity serving Mercer County, WV, Tazewell County, VA, and surrounding areas, promotes philanthropy by fostering charitable giving and responding to community needs in education, health, human services, and the arts. 

Grant funds will be used exclusively to purchase food and personal care items for the pantry between October 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. The pantry is supported by SWCC’s student success coaches and engagement staff, who ensure students are aware of and feel comfortable accessing its resources. 

SWCC serves approximately 3,000 students across Buchanan, Russell, Tazewell, and parts of Dickenson counties—areas where median household incomes and poverty rates are significantly below Virginia’s state averages. The Food for Thought pantry is a vital resource in helping students overcome barriers and achieve their educational goals. 

For more information about SWCC’s Food for Thought program or to support the pantry, please contact Susan Lowe at susan.lowe@sw.edu or 276-964-7304.