Bedford County Wins 2025 VACo Achievement Award for “Canning for a Cause” Initiative

08/14/2025

The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) has honored Bedford County with a 2025 Achievement Award for its "Canning for a Cause" program.

VACo received a record-breaking 155 submissions for this year’s awards and selected 57 winners. Awarded programs focused on improving public safety, community development, health, and addressing everyday challenges faced by counties across Virginia.

Launched in 2024, Canning for a Cause reimagined the role of the historic New London Cannery as a hub for community impact. The project brought together multiple partners, including:

• Bedford Community Health Foundation
• Central Virginia Health District
• Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Hunters for the Hungry
• Bedford County Parks & Recreation

Together, these organizations worked to produce and distribute shelf-stable venison and vegetable stew to food-insecure residents. With the help of 105 volunteers contributing nearly 560 hours, the program successfully distributed over 1,400 quarts of stew to local food banks. Volunteers also canned applesauce for food banks as well, thanks to a generous donation of apples from Gross Orchard. The initiative was featured in the October 2024 issue of Bedford County's public newsletter, Bedford County Community Connection.

“The Bedford Community Health Foundation’s mission to address community health needs aligns perfectly with the canning initiative. We recognize the power of a community coming together to meet the basic needs of their most vulnerable citizens,” said Denny Huff, executive director of the Bedford Community Health Foundation. “The canning of the venison stew is proof of concept, and we look forward to supporting the expansion of the canning initiative.”

Brian Martin, Parks Manager for Bedford County Parks & Recreation, stated, “The New London Cannery has evolved in the past year and is now more than just a facility — it’s a place where people who are passionate about their community are meeting real needs. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and are very excited to keep growing the program.”

Their efforts continue in 2025 with a new product. Volunteers will be making and canning meat chili at the New London Cannery in August. Other projects focusing on food insecurity are on the horizon, including more applesauce.

The New London Cannery, one of only a few public canneries still operating in Virginia, was originally opened in 1942. The facility relocated behind New London Elementary School a few years later.