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Virginia legal community plans statewide food drive

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell has announced that the third annual statewide “Legal Food Frenzy” will run from March 30 through April 10, with a goal of raising 1.5 million pounds of food.

The “Legal Food Frenzy” is a competition in the Virginia legal community to raise food and funds for Virginia’s food banks during a traditionally slow period for donations.

The statewide competition was launched by McDonnell, the Virginia Bar Association and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks in 2007 and is based on the regional event held every year since 1990 by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association.

In its first year, the event raised nearly 679,000 pounds of food. Last year’s competition — in which 181 law firms participated — doubled that amount, raising over 1.3 million pounds, enough for 1.07 million meals.

The law firm that raises the most amount of food per capita in the “Legal Food Frenzy” wins the “Attorney General’s Cup.” Last year’s winning firm was Schettine and Nguyen PLC of Richmond.

Virginia law firms are encouraged to sign up now for the 2009 “Legal Food Frenzy” by visiting: www.vafoodbanks.org/LFFsignup/index.htm.

In announcing the dates during at the Central Virginia Food Bank in Richmond, McDonnell also commended Dominion for its contribution of $1 million to food banks in 14 states, including $520,000 to Virginia’s food banks.

“Virginia’s food banks do tremendous good every day, all year long.” McDonnell said. “They provide warm meals and essential nutrition to Virginians who are facing tough times. In this economy their role has never been more crucial. Their assistance has never been more necessary.

“I hope every law firm in the commonwealth will sign up for the third annual statewide ‘Legal Food Frenzy’ and help play a role in ending hunger in Virginia. This is a great way for the legal community to give back, and this competition has become a tradition in the Virginia legal community.

“I also want to specifically thank Dominion for their generous contribution to Virginia’s food banks. Because of their gift, thousands of Virginians will get the food they need and the help they deserve. This is a perfect example of a great Virginia company giving back to the citizens they serve.

“I urge all Virginians to join Dominion in giving to their local food bank this holiday season. Virginia’s food banks are remarkably efficient and effective. They are a model for how Virginians can help each other, especially now in these tough economic times.”