Our Partners

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB) serves 25 counties and 8 cities on either side of the Blue Ridge through distribution centers in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Winchester, and Verona, and is a member of Feeding America. RARA sources the majority of our food through BRAFB, including both USDA and non-USDA items, and partners on multiple projects.

Rockbridge Feeds is a coalition of food providers and advocates in the Rockbridge Area. The coalition hosts RockbridgeFeeds.org, which is a central website for people to find food pantries, prepared meals, and other programs in the county, thanks to the fiscal sponsorship of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee (CKWL) promotes nutrition and addresses the issues of food waste and food insecurity in Lexington and Rockbridge County. They work towards these goals by transforming food that would otherwise go to waste into balanced meals for low-income members of the community. They also combat food insecurity through Mobile Food Pantry, Backpack, and Nutrition Education programs. CKWL and RARA work together on the Mobile Food Pantry program by using each of our unique strengths to get the most food into remote areas of Rockbridge County.

RARA partners with 3 local churches, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Lexington Presbyterian Church, and Grace Episcopal Church, to help pay requests for utilities assistance and housing support. We serve as the central location for households to call when they need assistance. Many other churches in the area support our programming through regular donations as well.

United Way of Rockbridge provides a leadership role in improving the quality of life of the people in Rockbridge County by assessing needs, raising and allocating funds for charitable purposes, and ensuring the appropriate use of those resources. Their support plays an essential role in RARA's operations through annual program funding and one-time grants.

RARA is a member of the Valley Homeless Connection Local Planning Group, which offers regional shelter, coordination and referrals, and housing support for the Cities of Waynesboro, Staunton, Lexington, and Buena Vista, and Augusta, Rockbridge, and Highland Counties. We also serve as an access point for people experiencing homelessness as part of a universal intake system.

Live Healthy Rockbridge is a coalition of local organizations, municipalities, businesses, and individuals who are involved in the health of our community. They recognize that good health and well-being are more than just the absence of disease or injury, and actively seek partnerships with organizations both within and outside of the field of healthcare such as RARA. They conduct a Community Health Assessment every 3 years, in partnership with Carilion Clinic, and develop a community-wide strategic plan for addressing the most pressing needs in the community, including access to food and housing.