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CMI Food “Relief Convoy” Aids Ohio & Marion County Flood Victims
June 28, 2025
SHEPHERDSTOWN – Local food nonprofit Community Markets Inc. (“CMI”) will deliver a freezer trailer full of food to Ohio and Marion counties on Monday as part of a “relief convoy” to bring much needed food and supplies to flood victims in West Virginia’s northern panhandle. CMI is partnering with Shepherdstown Shares, Saint James the Greater Roman Catholic Church’s Simon of Cyrene Trucking, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Highmark Foundation, and others to organize the effort that includes a box truck full of cleaning supplies and two cold storage trailers filled with a variety of locally sourced food for West Virginian farmers.
“Our farmers and partner networks are strong and able to respond quickly to the needs in Ohio and Marion counties brought on by the recent flooding,” explained Mark Peiffer, Operations Manager for Community Markets Inc. “Our small mobile cold storage fleet allows for us to move large quantities of food from farms to hungry West Virginians around the Mountain State at any given time, including in time of disaster.”
Some of the local farms that are providing food to be sent to Wheeling are: Crestview Meat Market, Cedar Ridge Hydroponics, Farmhouse Kitchen, Spring Valley Farm Market, and Country Creamery. Shepherds Whey Creamery also donated some bulk wheels of cheese and a local Food Lion grocery store donated some frozen meat, breads, cakes, and pastries. “It’s been very encouraging to see so many Eastern Panhandle organizations, farmers, and individuals come together with little notice to come to the aid of our fellow West Virginians on the Northern Panhandle,” noted Peiffer.
The convoy of three vehicles is scheduled to leave from Charles Town on Monday morning and reach Wheeling by the early afternoon where it will be received by the Catholic Charities office in Wheeling and immediately be sent to soup kitchens and food pantries where thousands of meals are being served each day to residents who currently lack power and any way to store or prepare perishable foods in their homes.
Short of being a one-time delivery, initial discussions are already being had between CMI and its growing number of food security partners around West Virginia about additional food deliveries to the Northern Panhandle as well as Morgantown and Fairmont where recent flooding affected many families. ” The need is so great – we’re already looking at July,” said Peiffer. “This is a call to action for everyone on the Eastern Panhandle to come to the aid of those suffering in the Northern Panhandle.”
Please Donate & Help WV Flood Victims!
Those able to make a monetary donation to bring healthy, WV-grown food to flood victims in Ohio and Marion counties are encouraged to visit https://www.communitymarketsinc.org/donate/ and select “WV Flood Relief Fund”. Note that our online donation partner, Zeffy, absorbs all of the processing fees, allowing for your full donation to help feed hungry flood victims. To volunteer as a driver or another way, donate food, or to learn more visit www.communitymarketsinc.org/about.
Read the Journal Martinsburg’s recent coverage of the “relief convoy” here: https://www.journal-news.net/eedition/shepherdstown-street-fest-to-return-raise-donations-for-w-va-flood-relief/article_1cb68cf8-0bb2-5191-a8ea-1450dd4689c8.html
Read the Catholic Spirit’s recent coverage of the “relief convoy” by clicking the June 27, 2025 issue link here: https://thecatholicspiritwv.org/
Community Markets Inc. (“CMI”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Shepherdstown, WV whose mission is to connect locally grown food to families in need. All of CMI’s programs and activities increase food security and access to healthy and affordable food grown in WV for all Appalachian families, especially underserved and low-income families. Get involved at www.communitymarketsinc.org