🌱 Mentor Barbershop Program + Food Pantry Demand Up, Donations Down

Morning, neighbors! It's time for the acclaimed Hump Day edition of Roanoke Patch Newsletter. Let's get the day started off right with a quick look at what's going on in town, including updates on:

• City Council and Gun Violence Commission joint meeting.
• "TacoRitas" Festival coming up.
• Students volunteer at local farm.

Ready?

But first, today's weather: Windy; a morning shower. High: 54 Low: 46.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. A partnership between Roanoke City Public Schools, Hill Street Baptist Church, and the Gun Violence Prevention Commission has created the Mental Health Barbershop program at Lucy Addison Middle School. Local barbers are volunteering to give haircuts to young men and act as mentors. The program aims to reduce violence by giving young men a safe place to go and by teaching them life skills. The program has received a grant from the commission to purchase food and snacks for the kids, and the church hopes to expand the program to different schools in the future. “I’m feeling refreshed. I’m feeling perfect. I’m feeling absolutely outstanding. I’m feeling like I could conquer the world if I wanted to,” said Lucy Addison Middle School student Steven Davis after his haircut. (WDBJ)
2. As summer approaches, some kids may not have access to consistent meals provided by schools, leading to an increased demand for food pantries and programs. The Salem/Roanoke County Food Pantry has seen a 40 percent increase in clients over the past year, while donations have decreased due to inflation and rising grocery costs. Feeding Southwest Virginia is also experiencing a 10-15 percent decrease in donations and a 30 percent increase in demand, particularly with the end of pandemic benefits. Both organizations are participating in the USPS Stamp Out Hunger food drive to collect donations. “It’s a big concern. it’s a big concern,” said Mickey Estienne, the director of the Salem/Roanoke County Food Pantry. "We’re getting a lot of clients that hadn’t been to the pantry in years that are coming back in need.” (WSLS)
3. The Berglund Center is hosting a ‘TacoRitas’ celebration at Elmwood Park on May 7, featuring live Latin music performances, salsa dancing, a taco-eating contest, food from local restaurants, and lots of tequila. General admission is $9, with various ticket options available, including a VIP package for $49. Children under 12 get in for free. The festival also offers margarita drink tastings, with a ticket price of $20 for up to five samples. Tickets can be purchased online, and vendors interested in selling tacos can contact Robyn at 540-853-6861. Visit the festival's website for more information. (WFXR)
4. Five hundred students, faculty, and staff from Faith Christian School in Roanoke County volunteered at Apple Ridge Farm, a nonprofit providing outdoor educational experiences to underserved children. They painted, cleaned, landscaped, and repaired the farm. The day of service, called Project Faith, also helped raise money for the school. "We’ve gotten support from a wide range of people, and today is following in that tradition, and we’re so pleased to have our friends from Faith Christian School come and adopt us for the day,” said Peter Lewis, owner of Apple Ridge Farm. "It’s just fantastic." (WDBJ)
5. Roanoke City Council and the Gun Violence Prevention Commission had a joint meeting to discuss combatting gun violence in the city Monday night. The commission presented eight strategic recommendations, including gathering evidence-based data on the root causes of gun violence and securing sustainable funding streams for prevention, intervention, and response efforts. Council members expressed their desire to be more involved in the decision-making process, particularly when it comes to funding other organizations. They discussed a proposal that would involve the commission recommending how to spend the funds, with council giving final approval. City leaders also emphasized their focus on the northwest section of Roanoke, which has a high incidence of gun violence. The recommendations were discussed amidst an ongoing audit of the commission. (WSLS)

Today in Roanoke:

• Open Mic with The Comedy Lab at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6:30 p.m.)
• Karaoke Night at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke County Public Schools: "State champs! Way to go! On April 22, the CSHS Debate Team took home the VHSL Class 1-3 Debate State Championship title! The team not only won, but has two individual state champions, Emma Roshioru and Ella Vance!" (Roanoke County Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Happy National Teacher Appreciation Day to all the teachers who go above and beyond for their students. Your dedication and passion are an inspiration to us all. We can't wait to show you even more love next week during Teacher Appreciation Week!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "We’re excited to announce Member One presents Mega Market Match! On Mega Market Match days from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., when users purchase EBT/SNAP tokens, they will receive a dollar-to-dollar match, up to $100 per person!" (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Facebook)
• Roanoke Sheriff's Office: "We would like to acknowledge those residents who completed the ALPA program in April 2023. We thank you for putting forth the effort and wanting to be in a better position than where you were when you entered our facility." (Roanoke Sheriff's Office via Facebook)

Alrighty — be careful out there today. Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Ian

About me: Ian Graham is a novelist, screenwriter, and freelance contributing writer. He is a firm believer in being yourself… unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman. To connect with Ian, you can visit him on Facebook and Instagram. He doesn't bite. Except on full moons.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roanoke Patch newsletter? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com