On May 21st, our team at Summit Environmental Solutions was honored to attend and serve as the sole sponsor of the 2025 Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank Community Collaboration Workshop. This was our fourth consecutive year supporting the event. Throughout the day, community leaders, local organizations, and attendees came together to discuss food insecurity and the people affected by it every day. This year’s theme was “Hunger Has No Face.”
Between sessions, our team spent time in the lobby speaking with attendees, vendors, and other organizations supporting the event. Summit was also honored to be recognized during the workshop and presented with an award for sponsoring this year’s event.
Hunger Has No Face
This year’s theme, “Hunger Has No Face”, focused on the reality that hunger affects people from every walk of life.
One of the biggest takeaways from the day was that many people struggling with hunger don’t fit the stereotype people often imagine. Hunger exists in every neighborhood and every zip code. Sometimes the people facing it are working jobs, attending school, raising families, or trying to quietly make it through difficult circumstances.
The theme carried through every discussion during the event. Hunger may not always be visible, but it is much closer to many families than people realize.
Opening Remarks from CEO Dan Maher
Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank CEO Dan Maher opened the workshop by reflecting on the different meanings behind the word “face.”
He spoke about phrases like “face the music,” relating to the difficult moment someone realizes they need help. He talked about “showing face,” continuing to show up despite personal struggles. One of the strongest points centered around the phrase “save face” and the shame many people feel when asking for assistance from a food bank.
His remarks helped frame the purpose of the day’s conversations. Hunger does not have one single look or one single story.
Keynote Speaker Sophia Blake
The keynote speaker for the event was Sophia Blake, founder of Sustained Life, Inc. and Executive Director of New Vision Community Outreach Association FXBG.
Her message focused on compassion, dignity, and recognizing the humanity behind every situation. One of her most impactful statements was, “Hunger does not discriminate. It can touch anyone at anytime regardless of background or circumstances.”
She also emphasized that, “We see people first, not their need, not their struggle, but their humanity and this is the heart of our work.”
Breakout Sessions and Community Conversations
The workshop also included breakout sessions focused on “Bridges Out of Poverty” and resources for fathers through A Father’s Legacy. These sessions created opportunities for attendees to discuss challenges facing families throughout our community and ways local organizations can continue supporting them.
Later in the day, attendees also heard from Alyssa Brown, Ms. Wheelchair Virginia 2026. She spoke about her experience living with a disability and reminded the audience that disability is the only minority group someone can become part of at any point in life.
Her message centered around dignity, advocacy, and creating communities where people with disabilities can live without fear and with respect. Like many of the day’s conversations, her remarks reinforced the idea that struggles are not always visible from the outside.
The Faces Behind the Mission
One of the most powerful reminders from the day came from learning more about the scale of the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank’s work. In 2025 alone, the Food Bank distributed 8,891,139 pounds of food and served 52,889 neighbors throughout the region.
The workshop also highlighted the journey food takes before reaching someone in need. Donations move through receiving, inspection, sorting, storage, and partner programs before finally landing in the hands of local families, seniors, students, and individuals facing difficult times.
Hunger may have no face, but the people fighting it absolutely do. The volunteers, drivers, warehouse staff, partner agencies, donors, and community organizations behind the scenes are the reason so many neighbors receive support when they need it most.
Proud to Support the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank
Our team at Summit Environmental Solutions was proud to support this year’s Community Collaboration Workshop and grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an impactful event.
We appreciate everything the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank does for our community every day. It was an honor to support the workshop, connect with attendees and local organizations, and help continue conversations that matter throughout our region.
