Beans and Rice, Inc. grew out of alternative break and service learning classes taught by Dr. Nelda K. Pearson in Radford University’s Department of Sociology. Following a springtime retreat in 1997, Dr. Pearson and several of her current and former students decided to create a non-profit to address the work that they felt was needed in the community. In January of 1998, the dream was realized and classroom projects became community volunteer work for the new 501(c)(3).
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Our Name
What started out as an Alternative Break class fund raiser of preparing a simple meal of beans and rice on campus once a week for a donation, lead the way to the name of a new organization. While the project only raised $250.00, it became a great community builder. Realizing that as a complete protein, that was cheap and provided for basic needs, beans and rice was a perfect name and metaphor for the vision of the organization.
Our Core Values
Beans and Rice, Inc., works to improve the lives of low to moderate-income individuals and families. We do this by focusing our efforts in Food Security, Family Stability and Youth Development. We believe in “Strengthening community by empowering our neighbors”.