The Roanoke Foodshed Network (RFN) is excited to announce the recipients of the 2026–2027 Healthy Community Action Team (HCAT) Mini-Grants, funded through the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. This funding cycle, the Roanoke Foodshed Network awarded $19,375 to 12 organizations advancing community health and food access across the Roanoke region.
The HCAT Mini-Grant program supports innovative, community-driven initiatives that improve access to healthy foods, increase opportunities for nutrition education, and strengthen local food systems for youth and families in the region. Awarded projects this year will support infrastructure improvements for school and community gardens, trauma-informed nutrition education, agriculture workforce development and youth engagement programs, and increased access to fresh, nutrient-dense foods.
The 2026–2027 HCAT Mini-Grant recipients are:
- Cave Spring Elementary School
- East Salem Elementary School
- The Harvest Collective
- The Humble Hustle Company, Inc.
- LEAP
- One Valley, Inc.
- Roanoke Refugee Partnership
- Salem Area Ministries
- Star City Strong Foundation
- Virginia Cooperative Extension
- West End Center for Youth
- The Wild Way
“These grants represent an investment in the people and organizations who are building an abundant, and more connected regional food system,” said Maureen McGonagle, Director of the Roanoke Foodshed Network. “These projects will create lasting benefits for our communities while empowering the next generation to engage with healthy food and local agriculture.”
“The Wild Way is honored to be a part of Roanoke Foodshed Network’s HCAT again in 2026,” said Alex Siple, Executive Director of The Wild Way. “We are working with Lick Run Farm and Terravie Wellness to launch Wildly Nourished, a collaborative program that will offer foraging and farming workshops for youth to increase understanding and appreciation of local foods and healthy eating. We will specifically prioritize the enrollment of low-income and at-risk youth who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities.”
Funding will also support programs that teach students how to grow their own food. “This funding will help Salem Area Ministries continue providing students with hands-on opportunities to learn about nutrition, gardening, and environmental stewardship” said Garry Lautenschlager, Administrator for Salem Area Ministries. “By purchasing essential garden materials and supplies, we can sustain school gardens that improve access to fresh foods while creating meaningful educational experiences.”
Funded through the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, the HCAT Mini-Grant program reflects the Roanoke Foodshed Network’s commitment to fostering a healthier, more equitable regional food system by supporting grassroots initiatives that address community needs and empower residents through food education, engagement, and access.
For more information about the Healthy Community Action Team and the Roanoke Foodshed Network, please contact: Maureen McGonagle, mo@roanokefoodshednetwork.org
About the Roanoke Foodshed Network
The Roanoke Foodshed Network (RFN) is a regional collaboration of 80+ partners working to build a more equitable, resilient food and farm system that produces health and abundance for all. The RFN exists to cultivate community, align efforts, and advance shared goals to strengthen our regional food and farm system from soil to table. The Roanoke-based nonprofit Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP) is a fiscal sponsor for the network. Other leading network partners include Carilion Clinic, Feeding Southwest Virginia, the Virginia Association for Biological Farming, the Virginia Tech Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation, Roanoke City Economic Development, and Singing Spring Farm. Learn more at roanokefoodshednetwork.org and roanokefoodandfarmtrail.org.
About Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP):
Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP) is a Roanoke-based 501c3 nonprofit. Founded in 2009, LEAP strives to nurture the local food community through equitable food and farming systems that prioritize health and abundance and support local farmers. LEAP makes local food available through two farmers markets, a mobile market, a farm share, and a community store, as well as operates a food hub, processing kitchen, three community gardens, and robust food access programs. LEAP co-founded and serves as the fiscal sponsor for Roanoke Foodshed Network and Virginia Fresh Match. Learn more about LEAP at leapforlocalfood.org.
About Feeding Southwest Virginia:
Feeding Southwest Virginia is a partner of Feeding America. For the last four decades, the Food Bank’s ultimate mission has been to nourish neighbors, engage community partners, and develop solutions to address food insecurity. The primary function of the Food Bank is to secure and distribute large quantities of food for the 1 in 7 food insecure neighbors. Over $33.7million worth of food and grocery-related products are channeled annually through approximately 275 agency partners which operate 353 meal programs throughout our 26-county and nine-city service region. Visit feedingswva.org for more information.
About Carilion Clinic:
Carilion Clinic is a not-for-profit health care organization serving more than one million people in Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Southwest Virginia regions. Headquartered in Roanoke, Carilion’s comprehensive hospital network, primary and specialty physician practices, and other complementary services deliver high-quality, patient-centered care close to home. Carilion’s enduring commitment to the health of our communities has advanced over the last decade but remains grounded in providing care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Beginning with the transformation to the clinic model of a physician-led, integrated health care system, Carilion has developed robust academic partnerships with the creation of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and Radford University Carilion’s school for allied health sciences. Carilion advances care through education and research elements and continues to rely on the generous support of donors to advance its mission to improve the health of the communities we serve. Learn more at CarilionClinic.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
