Volunteer-run food bank fuels McDowell County's fight against hunger

A volunteer-run food bank based on the Coal Heritage Highway in Kimball is a steady lifeline for McDowell County families facing food insecurity. Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank distributes nonperishable food items, hygiene products and household goods year-round, and its volunteers say those supplies allow households to direct limited benefits and income toward fresh, perishable foods.

"Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) organization located in Kimball, WV. Five Loaves provides non-perishable food items, hygiene products, and household goods to residents of McDowell County all throughout the year. These items are a supplement that enable individuals and families to allocate other benefits and income to fresh, perishable foods that Five Loaves is unable to provide." The operation is 100 percent volunteer staffed and maintains community partnerships to extend its reach across the county.

The organization lists a primary location on Coal Heritage Highway in Kimball and a secondary address at 171 Riverside Drive, Welch, WV 24801, and can be reached by phone at (304) 585-7295. Donation options and a contact page on the group's site invite requests for assistance and volunteers, reflecting a model built on neighbor-to-neighbor support rather than paid staff or large institutional funding.

Five Loaves has drawn broader attention through documentary and television features, a visibility that has helped the food bank connect with outside donors and volunteers. Still, its core effort remains meeting day-to-day needs in a rural county where access to fresh groceries can be limited by transportation, household budgets and seasonal work patterns. By supplying staples and household necessities, the food bank helps reduce immediate hunger and gives residents space to prioritize perishable, nutrient-rich foods when possible.

From a public health perspective, reliance on nonperishable supplements is a pragmatic response to structural gaps, but it also highlights longer-term needs in nutrition, chronic disease prevention and food systems planning. Sustaining volunteer capacity and expanding access to fresh produce will require both continued local engagement and policy attention to rural food access and social supports.

For residents needing help or for those wanting to volunteer or donate, contact Five Loaves at (304) 585-7295 or visit the Kimball location on Coal Heritage Highway; a secondary office is listed at 171 Riverside Drive, Welch. The presence of a staffed, community-operated pantry means neighbors have a dependable resource now, but keeping that safety net strong will depend on consistent local support and broader solutions to food and health inequities in McDowell County.