As Thanksgiving and the holiday season looms large, we can all be thankful for community organizations that try to make the New River Valley a better place.

One such group is Beans and Rice, Inc., a community-based organization out of Radford, has been in existence since 1997. Their motto is: “Meeting immediate needs while working for long-term solutions.”

Dr. Nelda Pearson, founder of Beans and Rice, Inc., has developed a variety of different programs looking to meet those immediate needs while providing solutions that can be embraced in the future. Some of the programs include:

Low income housing programs at Willow Woods in Radford and Meadowview in Pulaski:

• Computer lab with internet access
• Community Outreach Worker
• Food Pantry - 45 families served at Willow Woods and 20 at Meadowview
• After School Program – provides tutoring, academic enrichment, recreation, field trips, and meals to 25 children at Willow Woods and 20 at Meadowview

Youth Leadership Programs in Radford:

• After School Program – 25 youth served
• Handy Youth – income generating project for teenagers to earn money for their education doing small jobs
• TIES – Teens In the Economic Scene – business mentor program in Pulaski with 32 youth served
• Youth Individual Development Accounts – a two for one savings program where their savings from Handy Youth and TIES is doubled and cannot be directly accessed by the youth – 50 youth savings accounts

Food Distribution: 60-90 households served in their distribution of perishable food to the Radford Fire Station parking lot, Radford Department of Social Services, and Radford/Fairlawn Daily Bread

Community Learning and Development Centers in Pulaski:

• High-tech classroon/computer lab
• Adult Education – pre-GED, GED, and middle college classes

Asset Building and Entrepreneurship Assistance

• Microsolutions – a microenterprise loan fund
• ROOTS – technical assistance for microsolutions
• Virginia Enterprise Initiative – provider of loan access and technical assistance in the NRV
• Virginia Individual Development Account Intermediary (VIDA) - two for one savings program for adults to save for a first home, education, or a small business
•  Financial Literacy, Credit Counseling, and Tax Preparation

With offices in Radford and Pulaski, Beans and Rice has 12 employees and continuously looks for volunteers. Students looking to get involved with the organization can usually do so within education classes, where they will volunteer one day a week for the entire semester.

“I believe we have been successful because we started out with $250 13 years ago,” Pearson said. “We have grown each year and have only terminated one program the entire time, and that program is now back.”

With organizations such as Beans and Rice serving the area, the greater good of the community is shown through their work, contributions, and dedication.

Beans and Rice, Inc. office in Radford is located at 323 West Main St.                          Phone: 540.633.6270    Fax: 540.633.6271    E-mail: info@beansandrice.org

Beans and Rice, Inc. office in Pulaski is located at 15 West Main St.                              Phone: 540.980.4111    Fax: 540.980.4070

Josh Nash is an intern for the New River Voice.