Starting Monday, lawyers across the commonwealth will be collecting food and money to support the Central Virginia Foodbank and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.

Organizers hope to collect 1 million pounds of nonperishable food during the second annual statewide Legal Food Frenzy, which runs through April 11.

About 60 firms in the Richmond area are participating, said Katja Hill, a partner with LeClairRyan and co-chairwoman of the Legal Food Frenzy Project for the Virginia Bar Association.

"Most lawyers have never experienced chronic hunger," Hill said. "If you go and see it and see the magnitude of it, it's overwhelming."

The Central Virginia Foodbank works with grocers, farmers, restaurants and others to get donated food. The organization also buys food when the need is greater than what it has in stock, said Chief Development Officer Patricia S. Morris.

On average, the group distributes 50,000 pounds of food daily, she said.

Seven food banks across Virginia are participating. Last year, a total of 175 firms donated food, Hill said.

The Central Virginia Foodbank district covers 31 counties and six cities. The district comprises areas from the North Carolina line northeast to Louisa County, east to the Northern Neck, and south to Surry County.

Food will be collected at participating firms. Monetary donations, in the name of a firm or attorney, can be made online at the food bank Web site at www.cvfb.org/.

For information about the six other participating food banks in Virginia, go to www.vafoodbanks.org.
Contact Emily C. Dooley at (804) 649-6016 or edooley@timesdispatch.com.