Fundraising to begin for Roanoke Community Solutions Center

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - The clock is ticking for Feeding America Southwest Virginia to raise the money it needs to open the Community Solutions Center in Roanoke.

The organization bought a former night club building on Melrose Avenue with plans to convert it into a training kitchen and community room to help turn the high-crime area around. The building needs to be gutted in order to make it happen.

COMMUNITY SOLUTION CENTER AIMS TO REPURPOSE ROANOKE BUILDING KNOWN FOR CRIME ACTIVITY

Feeding America is working to get grant money but is now in the 90-day window it has to raise $350,000 to pay for renovations. The organization is looking for the community's help to do it.

"One of the things we need to do is raise new money, not divert money from our Feeding America Southwest Virginia food distribution program and what we do," said CEO Pam Irvine. "But actually use this as an opportunity to maybe find new friends for the food bank and funding partners as well."

You can contribute to the community center fund online or by calling Feeding America Southwest Virginia at 540-342-3011.