Mountaineer Popcorn Company raising funds, food for World Food Day

Mountaineer Popcorn Company weekend manager Shelby Fernatt (left) and associate Zeke Coffman (right), both Shepherd University students, package up popcorn for customers on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston
SHEPHERDSTOWN — For Mountaineer Popcorn Company, food poverty is something worth fighting against. And in honor of World Food Day, the company is doing just that.
“Our fundraiser coordinator, Rachel Wilkinson, suggested we promote World Food Day in an effort to bring awareness of food poverty around the world and locally in our own community,” said Mountaineer Popcorn Company owner Erin Valasek on Monday morning. “Our management team collectively decided to choose two local organizations to give back to, with nonperishable donations and a percentage of our profits during the promotional time period.”
From October 1 through this past Wednesday, the business was giving a 10 percent discount to all customers orders, provided the orders were made in conjunction with the donation of two nonperishable food items. Then from this past Thursday through the official date of World Food Day, October 16, a second phase of the commemoration will be held.
“From October 12 through 16, 15 percent of sales will be split between two local nonprofit organizations, Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry and Berkeley County BackPack Program,” Valasek said, noting the donated food will also be divided between the two organizations. “We wanted to choose two local organizations that work hard to provide assistance to families and children in need.”
The connection between these two organizations and World Food Day, which was founded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s 20th General Conference in November 1979 to raise awareness of the issues behind poverty and hunger, is clear. The Berkeley County BackPack Program “meet(s) the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations,” according to the program’s mission statement. Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry has continuously provided nourishing food to local individuals and families facing food poverty since its establishment in 2020, and has a long-established relationship with Mountaineer Popcorn Company.

A shopper reads the sign advertising Mountaineer Popcorn Company's World Food Day plans on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston
“We do have a partnership with Shepherdstown Shares. Special dollars purchased through Shepherdstown Shares are accepted at Mountaineer Popcorn . . . they get a portion of money when customers purchase these dollars,” Valasek said.
According to employee Zeke Coffman, this charitable mindset is a core feature of Mountaineer Popcorn Company.
“We do a lot of philanthropic stuff, donating to different organizations and holding fundraisers, as well,” Coffman said. “It definitely makes me feel good, that I’m contributing to different organizations that are helping other people.”
Weekend manager Shelby Fernatt wholeheartedly agreed, noting that local schools and animal rights groups are also supported by Mountaineer Popcorn Company’s philanthropic efforts.
“We do fundraisers and also make a lot of popcorn donations to support different nonprofits, like as a prize for the humane society bingo night and things like that,” Fernatt said.
At the end of the day, Valasek said she hopes her company’s new focus on World Food Day will make a difference in the local community.
“We want to enlighten and spread awareness of the devastating percentage of people suffering from food poverty in our world, country, state and local area,” Valasek said. “The more customers in our shop overall [will lead to more] help [for] our families and children in need! The more purchases, the more we are able to give back!”
- Mountaineer Popcorn Company weekend manager Shelby Fernatt (left) and associate Zeke Coffman (right), both Shepherd University students, package up popcorn for customers on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston
- A shopper reads the sign advertising Mountaineer Popcorn Company’s World Food Day plans on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston