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Gov. Jim Justice announced the launch of an emergency food fund Thursday that he said he will benefit food pantries in all 55 counties.

Justice spoke about the Posey Perry Emergency Food Fund during his virtual administration briefing. He also used the session to applaud a new state ranking for West Virginia, to encourage reading among children and to discuss the state of sports in the Mountain State, including WVU’s heartbreaking loss last week to Houston.

Justice said the new emergency food fund will support the state’s two large food banks, Mountaineer Food Bank and Facing Hunger Foodbank. He said those two organizations in return will provide meals to food pantries in all 55 counties.

“I am extremely proud to announce today we are launching that and that food fund will supply food in our food banks with an additional $10 million to combat the food insecurity in West Virginia,” the Republican governor said, adding that the emergency food fund was being named after the late Posey Perry, a coal miner who volunteered at food banks for many years.

Food insecurity in the state was identified as one of the reasons the new emergency food fund was needed.

“The Posey Perry Emergency Food Fund gives our food banks a little extra help to make sure everyone has food on their table,” Justice said. “When we pull the rope together, we can make amazing things happen, and this is an example. I’m thankful for the great work our food banks do, and I know this is going to really make a difference for West Virginia families.”

Justice also used Thursday’s virtual briefing as an opportunity to promote West Virginia as a location for those at or nearing the retirement age.

“West Virginia has been named the most affordable in the country and the third best overall state to live in for retirees in the entire country,” Justice said. “I mean it just keeps happening over and over.”

Justice said more people are now taking a second look at West Virginia, as negative perceptions once associated with the state are no longer prevalent.

“What is happening is the world and the nation continues to look at West Virginia,” Justice said.

The governor also touted childhood literacy during Thursday’s briefing, announcing that today is being recognized as National Early Childhood Awareness Day in the Mountain State.

“The more you have the opportunity to read to your child at a very, very young age do that,” he said. “Because it will only make them better and better readers as you go forward and those folks who are great readers seem to excel in everyway.”

As has been the case during recent briefings, Justice also touched on the topic of sports, arguing that West Virginia is becoming a “incredible mecca” for sports. He talked about West Virginia’s difficult loss last week to Houston, which beat the Mountaineers with a desperation Hail Mary pass into the end zone with no time remaining on the clock.

The loss was tough for WVU fans because it came at the hands of former WVU Coach Dana Holgorsen, who is now the head football coach for Houston.

“We saw a Hail Mary with no time left on the clock to go into the 50 yard line, and somehow bounce and be deflected in area and the kids grabbing it,” Justice said. “But I congratulate Neal Brown and his group. They got a big game coming up against Oklahoma State this weekend. So let’s go get that one and get back on the right foot.”

— Contact Charles Owens at [email protected]

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