Community Assistance

Food Insecurity Resources

Campus Kitchen at Washington & Lee

Mobile Food Pantry: 

  • 1st Friday of the Month: Home deliveries to Rockbridge Baths, Raphine, and South Buffalo 
  • 2nd Friday of the Month, 2:00pm-3:00pm: Stonebridge Center (Natural Bridge Station) 
  • 3rd Thursday of the Month, 1:00pm-3:00pm: Lexington House and Windemere Apartments (Lexington)
  • 3rd Friday of the Month, 2:00pm-3:00pm: Maury River Senior Center (Buena Vista)
  • 4th Wednesday of the Month, 2:00pm-3:00pm: Goshen Public Library 
  • 4th Friday of the Month, 10:00am-12:00pm: Fairfield Presbyterian Church 

Contact Information: 
Ryan Brink
rbrink@wlu.edu
(540) 458-8784 

Address: 
Mattingly House, Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia 24450 

The Community Table

The Community Table seeks to relieve hunger while building community. Everyone is served regardless of the ability to donate. The entire community is invited invited to attend Monday evening dinners, to share a meal together family-style and enjoy a night out at a "restaurant without a cash register". [TCT is currently offering drive-thru meal pickup from 6:00-6:45 pm until sit down dinners can resume.]

Contact Information:

350 Spotswood Avenue
Lexington, VA 24450

rockbridgecommunitytable@gmail.com

Natural Bridge Glasgow Food Pantry

Pantry Hours: 

  • Open the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Saturdays of each month from 9:00am-11:00am.
  • Open the third Thursday of each month from 9:00am-1:00pm. 

Contact Information: 
725 Stoner Hollow Road
Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579
(540) 291-2578

Rockbridge Feeds

Find Food Today: https://rockbridgefeeds.org/get-help/

RockbridgeFeeds.org is a tool designed to help people find nonprofit food pantries, prepared meals, and other food programs in Rockbridge County. Updates on Food Distribution, Meal Delivery, and Grocery Services. Rockbridge Feeds provides regional updates.

Rockbridge Area Relief Association

If you are in urgent need of food and unable to access a pantry during operating hours, you can visit the Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA) for a one-time, emergency food allotment. RARA is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 4:30pm. 
    
Contact Information: 
350 Spotswood Drive
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 463-6642

Temporary Service Assistance

RARA HelpLine

The RARA HelpLine provides temporary assistance with rent, utilities, heating fuel, or gas to families in Rockbridge County. In some instances RARA provides emergency shelter to transient families, as well as referrals to other help agencies. The HelpLine accepts applications by phone only, Monday – Thursday from 9:30am – 12pm, at (540) 463-6642. For “after hours” emergency assistance, contact the Police Department.

Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP)

If you are having difficulty in making rent payments, you may be eligible for the Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP). Depending on availability of funds and household need, the RRP may provide financial assistance for rent payments for eligible households.

Check Eligibility Online - www.dhcd.virginia.gov/eligibility or call: 2-1-1

Energy Assistance

Applications for help with your heating and cooling bills or equipment needs are accepted online (at commonhelp.virginia.gov/access/), by calling the Enterprise Customer Service Center at (855) 635 - 4370, and at Rockbridge Area Department of Social Services (540) 463-7143.

Legal Services

Blue Ridge CASA

CASA is a nonprofit organization that helps community members become advocates for children. CASA provides access, training, and support while they engage in a proven, high-impact, meaningful volunteer experience. 
A CASA (a Court Appointed Special Advocate) is a trained community member appointed by a Judge to be an independent voice and advocate for the best interests of a child that is in foster care because they were abused or neglected.

Contact Information: 
119 W Frederick Street 
Staunton, VA 24401

(540) 213-2272
info@blueridgecasa.org

Blue Ridge Legal Services

Blue Ridge Legal Services is the nonprofit legal aid society providing free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of the Shenandoah Valley and Roanoke Valley of Virginia.

    Contact Information: 
    215 South Main Street
    Lexington, VA 24450
    (540) 463-7334

Educational Services

Boxerwood Education Association

The mission of Boxerwood Education Association is to educate and inspire people of all ages to be environmentally responsible stewards of the Earth. Boxerwood manages a small Nature Center and Woodland Garden in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and delivers award-winning environmental education programs to the community.

Contact Information:
963 Ross Road
Lexington, VA 24450
INFO@boxerwood.org
(540) 463-2697

Rockbridge Area YMCA

The YMCA of Virginia's Blue Ridge is proud to offer Y After School experiences in the Rockbridge area. 

The Y After School program is for children ages 5-12 years old attending Waddell Elementary School, Enderly Heights Elementary School, or Central Elementary School Monday-Friday during the 2021-2022 school year. 

Contact Information:
790 N Lee Highway 
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 464-9622 

Rockbridge Regional Library

Rockbridge Regional Library staff bolster the power of education, cultivate opportunities for learning, foster the fun in reading, and serve communities as information professionals.

Contact Information:
Julie Goyette - Library Director 
JGoyette@rrlib.net 

Address: 
138 South Main Street 
Lexington, VA 24450 

Phone: (540) 463-4324

Yellow Brick Road Early Learning Center

Yellow Brick Road Early Learning Center is a non-profit organization offering educational programs for children ages six weeks to six years old. Embracing the role as an institution that both serves and is sustained by the local community, Yellow Brick Road is one of the only early childhood facilities in the Rockbridge area providing need-based scholarships. 

Ultimately, Yellow Brick Road seeks to lay an educational and social foundation for all students, guiding each child towards his or her potential in a loving and nurturing environment. 

Contact Information:
410 Yellow Brick Road
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 463-7344

Medical and Services for Seniors

State Medical Support

Virginia offers several medical assistance programs to provide health coverage for eligible individuals, to include pregnant women, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, children under the age of 19, and adults aged 65 or older, blind or disabled. Eligibility requirements vary, and financial and non-financial criteria must be met. To apply or learn more, visit commonhelp.virginia.gov/access/) or by calling the Enterprise Customer Service Center at (855) 635 - 4370. A Medicaid/Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Application Assistance tool is also available at https://www.vhcf.org/looking-for-help/health-insurance/child-health-ins… to provide additional application assistance.

Rockbridge Area Health Center

The Rockbridge Area Health Center provides high-quality health care services to insured, uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid and Medicare patients of Rockbridge County and the surrounding areas. The Rockbridge Area Health Center provides primary medical services  including Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Women’s Health and Family Planning, Family Dentistry, and Behavioral Health Services.

Payment is expected at the time of the visit. Please bring your copayment and/or coinsurance payment, or Sliding Scale Fee payment.

Call or text (540) 464-8700

Rockbridge Area Transportation Services

Rockbridge Area Transportation System provides rides for anyone & everyone
RATS efforts for the past 24 years have been to provide safe and affordable rides for all residents of the Rockbridge County area who are in need of our services. Our drivers are trained and certified Passenger Service and Safety (PASS) professionals. They are equipped to handle and secure wheelchairs in each van and riders' safety is the goal of every trip. Fares are kept low with the help of grants and generous donor contributions from area residents and local businesses/churches.

Contact Information:
712 N Main Street
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 463-3346

Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS)

Community Based Services:  

  • Caregivers Community Network:  VPAS partners with James Madison University to match students with family caregivers. Students learn to interact with frail older adults and caregivers have a time of respite.

Health and Wellness Programs:

  • VPAS offers a variety of health education programs designed to empower adults to proactively manage their health with confidence. 

Medicare Counseling: 

  • Certified counselors help individuals and their caregivers make sense of Medicare and compare other health insurance benefits to find the best plans available. 

Ombudsman:

  • Local long-term care ombudsman helps individuals living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and persons receiving community-based services, assert their rights and express their grievances, regarding the long-term care services they receive. 

Senior Centers: 

  • Centers provide a variety of life enriching and health promotion activities to support active engagement in life.  Transportation to and from the Centers are provided on a limited basis.

Senior Transportation:

  • VPAS offers transportation for adults 60 years and older or disabled adults under 60 years who can no longer drive but still have need to get out to doctor’s appointments and to pick up groceries, medical prescriptions and other life necessary destinations. 

In-Home Services:

  • Meals on Wheels: Home delivered meals for eligible older adults. Meals meet one-third of the daily nutrition requirements for older adults. Hot or frozen meals are provided based on the location of the meal recipient.

Who may receive Meals on Wheels?

Older adults who:
●    Are 60 years or older and reside in a VPAS served region. 
●    Are unable to leave the home to attend regular social activities. 
●    Are unable to prepare meals for themselves. 
●    Are able to safely remain at home with meals as a support service. 
●    Lack meal support/preparation from family members or other individuals. 

Information and Assistance: 

  • A professional and experienced Case Manager handles phone requests for assistance from older adults, caregivers, professionals, and others. This might include a home assessment to determine what types of services might be best to meet the older adult’s needs.
  • Information and Assistance is available to persons 60 years and older. There is no charge for Information and Assistance, though some direct services may have a sliding fee depending on income level.

Contact Information: 
Laynee Knick 
2137 Magnolia Avenue
Buena Vista, VA 24416
(540) 261-7474

Services for Individuals with Disabilities

Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley

Brain Injury Connections combines public and private resources to provide specialized services for persons affected by brain injury in the Shenandoah Valley. Their primary service is brain injury case management. Case Managers provide an array of services to meet their clients’ needs including assistance with employment and education, daily living and personal care, housing, finances, healthcare, and many others. Brain Injury Connections is committed to serving those with the greatest need and least resources, therefore no fees for services are charged.

Contact Information: 

Phone: 540.568.8923
Email: info@bicsv.org 

Coffeehouse of Rockbridge:

On a monthly basis the Coffee House of Rockbridge provides an evening of entertainment, snacks/meal, social interaction, and networking for individuals with developmental, cognitive and physical disabilities for ages 16 and older. 

Contact Information:
Elaine Nelson 
Executive Director of Coffehouse of Rockbridge
Elaine.nelson@truist.com
(540) 319-6083

Address: 
235 S Sugar Creek Road
Lexington, VA 24450-6231

Talking Book Center

The Staunton Talking Book Center is a free public library service to area citizens who are unable to read standard print material. It is a sub-regional library of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS).

Contact Information:
1 Churchville Ave 
Staunton, VA 24401
talkingbooks@ci.staunton.va.us 
(540) 885-6215

Distress Helplines

National Disaster Distress Helpline: (800) 985-5990
The National Disaster Distress Helpline is dedicated to providing crisis counseling and support 24/7/365 for anyone in the U.S./territories experiencing emotional distress or other mental health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster.

Rockbridge Area Prevention Coalition: 
If you or someone you know is facing a mental health challenge, reach out to one of the hotlines below, or call Rockbridge Area Community Services at (855) 222-2046. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255

National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1-800-273-8255

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

2-1-1 Virginia

2-1-1 is an easy to remember phone number connecting people with available services both in the community and statewide. 

Every day, individuals contact 211VIRGINIA to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veteran services and childcare and family services. 

2-1-1 VIRGINIA is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Click here for help 211Virginia