Organization
Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program, a non-profit volunteer organization, founded in 1975.
Mission
Created to meet the immediate, emergency and temporary needs of low-income, unemployed, elderly, and handicapped individuals and families. MCEAP can help families in different disciplines such as food, clothing, household items and financial assistance. Their philosophy is to “strive to assist county residents in maintaining their households and restoring their self sufficiency".
Location
110 Roanoke St, Christiansburg, VA
Hours
Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 11:30am & 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Contact Info
(540) 381-1561
Community Partners
MCEAP works with local community partners. Some of these partners are big chains of established restaurants and grocery stores, and some are also smaller churches and gardens. Some examples of the businesses and organizations that help assist are:
- Kroger
- Wal-Mart
- Target
- Panera
- Montgomery County churches
- American Red Cross
- US Census Bureau
- local shelters
- service sororities and more.
There is always a steady supply of available donations for MCEAP.
Customers
Persons in need of emergency assistance should come in person to the MCEAP Administrative Office and be prepared to fill out paperwork, and provide documentation to prove that they are eligible for assistance. A verification of crisis must be shown before being screened for emergency assistance. Examples of crisis verification include: receipt of car repair, high medication or hospital bills, loss of work, doctor's excuse, proof of searching for employment, proof of work hours cut, etc.
Donation Standards
MCEAP prefers to receive non-perishable items. Items such as boxed dinner, canned meats, canned fruits/vegetables, dried beans, pasta/pasta sauce, frozen foods, and foods with no cooking required are requested. Fresh food is not accepted, due to the issue of keeping it refrigerated and not spoiling. Their standards for food they accept are simply that they are not already expired.
Staff
Only volunteers staff the store.
Transportation
Volunteers with personal vehicles assist with pickups and transferring items.
