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ORAL HISTORY
Jennifer Austin and Sally Latimer
Monacan Nation Food Bank
Sally Latimer and Jennifer Austin are cousins and members of the Monacan Nation in Amherst County, Virginia. Both women grew up in Maryland, and when they grew up, they wanted to raise their children in their Native community. Latimer often brought her son back to Virginia to participate in community events. In 2008, Latimer moved back to Amherst County, and in 2014, Austin moved back to the area.
In 2018, Latimer was approached by the assistant chief to reinvigorate the Monacan Nation’s food bank program. Latimer and Austin spent eight months studying other programs and learned how to run a sustainable food bank program. Since then, the food bank serves local community members and members of the Monacan Nation who live throughout the United States. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Latimer and Austin began a drop and go system to provide contact-free delivery of food and supplies. The pair estimates that their coverage has expanded 1000% since the beginning of the Pandemic. Though their food bank supports the Monacan Nation, they also serve any food insecure resident of Amherst County.
