In Amherst County, Virginia, the Monacan Nation Cultural Foundation (MINCF) Food Bank is nourishing its entire community —Tribal and non-Tribal —through a powerful blend of food access, cultural stewardship, and care for the next seven generations. In 2024 alone, the food bank served children an estimated 2,121 times, reflecting both the scale of the need and the commitment of local leaders to meet it.
The Monacan Indian Nation is a Siouan-speaking people whose ancestral homeland spans Virginia’s Piedmont and Blue Ridge—stretching from the Fall Line near Richmond and Fredericksburg west through the mountains, and from the Potomac to the Roanoke River valleys. Historically agricultural, Monacan communities cultivated the “Three Sisters” (corn, beans, and squash), hunted deer and elk, traded widely, and are distinguished by their earthen burial mounds found throughout the region.
Despite epidemics and colonial pressures that displaced many Indigenous nations, Monacan families sustained community life in what is now Amherst County—especially around Bear Mountain—preserving traditions, establishing churches and schools, and later creating a tribal museum and cultural programs. Today, the Monacan Nation numbers more than 3400 people and remains one of the few American Indian nations still living in its ancestral homeland, continuing a centuries-long commitment to cultural stewardship and community well-being.
This fall, No Child Goes Hungry (NCGH) joined forces with MINCF to help expand support for kids outside of school hours, including weekends, evenings, and holidays, when access to meals can be most uncertain. After receiving MINCF’s application, NCGH Founder and Director Kären Rasmussen worked with the team to identify priority items, then shipped boxes of food and supplies directly from an Amazon wish list to the food bank.
MINCF’s plan centers on launching a take-home food program designed specifically for children. The kits will include locally sourced items when possible, shelf-stable staples, and kid-friendly foods families can rely on when classrooms are closed. The MINCF Food Bank also emphasizes food sovereignty, honoring Indigenous values that connect nourishment with culture, community, and long-term well-being.
“We’re always looking to amplify local leaders who are close to the need,” said Rasmussen. “MINCF’s approach, which includes caring for children today while strengthening community resilience for tomorrow, is beautiful and admirable, and we’re proud to support their initiative.”
NCGH is grateful to partner with MINCF Food Bank and the dedicated leaders who made this collaboration possible.
To learn more and support the Monacan Nation Food Bank, visit the Monacan Nation Food Bank on Facebook. or The Monacan Nation Food Bank’s webpage you can also visit the Monacan Nation Webpage.
To explore ways to support weekend food programs and partner with NCGH, visit www.nochildgoeshungry.net
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