HARRISONBURG, VA (ROCKTOWN NOW) — The Food Coalition of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County has launched a new website to help residents in the city and county in need of grocery and food assistance.

The website, RockburgFeeds.Org, provides a comprehensive directory of food assistance resources in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County including locations, maps, operating hours and information on what to expect when visiting a food pantry.

Olivia Haimani, FCHR’s Coordinator with Sentara RMH, told Rocktown Now that the website went live a few months ago before it was officially introduced by the Coalition on Thursday. She said feedback from people who have used the website so far has been positive, and that they also shared it with friends and loved ones also in need of food assistance.

“It’s easy to use, it’s works well on your smartphones, it’s mobile friendly and it’s even available in different languages,” Haimani said.

According to the 2024 Map the Meals Gap Study, more than 17,000 individuals experiencing food insecurity are in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County areas. According to Haimani, that number is growing.

“Food insecurity is a rising problem as the cost of everything is going up including, of course, groceries,” Haimani said. “So, more and more people are seeking, you know, assistance with providing groceries and keeping their families fed. So, it will connect a lot of families with resources.”

Those features are part of FCHR’s efforts to reduce food insecurity in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. RockBurgFeeds.Org is a partnership with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and was modeled after similar websites in other counties served by the Food Bank, according to Haimani.