Liesel Ritchie, a professor in the Department of Sociology, was awarded $320,000 as the Virginia Tech Principal Investigator for “Strengthening Charitable Food System Capability for Effective Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery” with the national non-profit organization, Feeding America. The purpose of the two-year project is to conduct applied research that supports Feeding America’s disaster planning and preparedness activities with Food Banks in ten midwestern U.S. states. With Virginia Tech as the lead, the work will be conducted in collaboration with Feeding America’s National Office, the University of South Carolina, Arizona State University, and the Bill Anderson Fund. Funding for the project, which began January 1, is $320,000.