Bedford Community Health Foundation

Bedford Community Health Foundation Our mission is to make Bedford one of the healthiest places to live!

BCHF works to improve the health of Bedford residents by work closely with community leaders and agencies to address healthcare needs through grants and sustainable community solutions.

10/29/2025

A Heartfelt Thanks and a Call for Better Communication

On behalf of the Bedford Community Health Foundation Board, we wish to express our deep appreciation for the many years of compassionate care and service provided by Centra Health through the Centra Adult Day Center in Bedford. This facility has been a
lifeline for families in our community for decades—offering not only essential care for vulnerable adults but also much-needed respite and support for their caregivers.

Centra Health has long been a valued partner in advancing health and wellness in our region. Their commitment to quality care and community engagement has made a meaningful difference in the lives of countless Bedford residents. We are grateful for their
dedication and the many professionals who have served with empathy and excellence.

That said, we must also voice our profound disappointment and concern regarding the abrupt closure of the Adult Day Center. The short notice given to families and community stakeholders has left many scrambling for alternatives, with little time to prepare or plan for the transition. The lack of advanced communication has created unnecessary hardship for those who rely on these services daily—not only the participants, but also their families, caregivers, and support networks.

We understand that difficult decisions must sometimes be made, especially in the face of financial or operational challenges. However, transparency and collaboration are essential when those decisions impact the most vulnerable members of our community. We believe that with earlier notice and open dialogue we could have worked together to explore solutions, identify resources, or at the very least, help families navigate the change with
greater support.

As a foundation committed to improving health outcomes in Bedford, we remain hopeful that Centra Health will continue to engage with local partners in a spirit of cooperation and
shared responsibility. We urge Centra, and all healthcare organizations serving our region, to prioritize clear communication and community input when making decisions that affect
public health and wellbeing.

To the families affected, we see you. We hear you. And we are committed to advocating for services that honor your needs and dignity.

Dr. Garrett Hurt, Chair, Board of Trustees, Bedford Community Health Foundation

Send a message to learn more

10/06/2025

In the Summer of 2025, the Bedford Community Health Foundation awarded nine scholarships to Bedford residents for the 2025/26 academic year. Congratulations to these students!!

Stephanie Gibbs, Daphene Davis, Sarah Furr, Lauryn Gardner, Mary Malcolm, Katherine Thompson, Hannah Ranger, Gracie Dooley and Leigh Ann Markham.

The Bedford Community Health Foundation awards scholarships each year to Bedford students pursuing a career in a health-related field. Please check out our website (www.healthybedford.org) for details and requirements.

Send a message to learn more

12/17/2024

Celebrating the Bedford Otter Bus and the Bedford Community Health Foundation at the Bedford Area Welcome Center Festival of Trees!! Vote for #5 to show your support for public transit in the Town of Bedford!

Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation

BIG thanks to the BARC Healthy Foods Committee for helping with the labeling of Venison Stew cans yesterday!! Distributi...
11/22/2024

BIG thanks to the BARC Healthy Foods Committee for helping with the labeling of Venison Stew cans yesterday!! Distribution to begin next week!!

Thank you, Gary and Katie, for a great interview! This project will help so many people in our community. Thanks for the...
11/22/2024

Thank you, Gary and Katie, for a great interview! This project will help so many people in our community. Thanks for the shoutout, but the real heroes are the hunters and the volunteers that made this possible. Hunters for the Hungry - Virginia, Liberty FFA

Hunters for the Hungry has served more than 7.9 million pounds of meat to the commonwealth since its founding in 1991.

Congratulations to our Fall Grant recipients! (Back row, left to right) Children's Assistive Technology Service, The Ave...
11/19/2024

Congratulations to our Fall Grant recipients! (Back row, left to right)
Children's Assistive Technology Service, The Avenel Foundation, Food For Kids, Meals On Wheels, Society of St. Andrews, Five18 Family Services, CASA of Central Virginia, Hunters For the Hungry, Lake Christian Ministries, (Front row, left to right) The Wharton Memorial Foundation, Main Street United Methodist Church, SML Good Neighbors, Inc. Check out these organizations, they do great work for our community!

07/25/2024

The Bedford Community Health Foundation has completed their Spring 2024 grant cycle, with $121,341 in grants. Funds were awarded to 21 non-profits who provide health care or health-related services to Bedford residents. Since its inception, BCHF has awarded over 7.3 million dollars in grants and scholarships to benefit those living in the Bedford area.

Over the past years, the foundation has taken a more comprehensive approach by addressing more aspects of health, such as healthy neighborhood conditions, access to healthy foods, dental health, and transportation. A broader view of health allows the foundation to better address the root causes of health disparities in the town and county of Bedford.

Spring 2024 Recipients are as follows:

Brook Hill Farm
Chamblissburg Baptist Church
The Doorways
Agape
Lynchburg Daily Bread
Children’s Trust
CHIP of Roanoke Valley
Bedford Community Christmas Station
LEAP
Bedford Area Education Foundation
American Red Cross
BUG
Bedford Hospice House
CVACL
Covered Chaplaincy
Free Clinic of Central VA
HumanKind
Feed The Need
Bedford Co. Social Services
Bedford Public Library System

For more information or to donate to BCHF, call 540-586-5292 or email [email protected] or visit, www.healthybedford.org.

Send a message to learn more

07/25/2024

CONGRATULATIONS to the following Bedford students who received Scholarship from the BCHF for the academic year 2024-25!!

April Shelton – Susie G. Gibson S&TC
Amber Overstreet – Susie G. Gibson S&TC
Courtney Shepherd – Susie G. Gibson S&TC
Kyndall Goff – Susie G. Gibson S&TC
Demika Edwards – Susie G. Gibson S&TC
Stephanie Gibbs – Centra College of Nursing
Kirah Smith – Centra College of Nursing
Katherine Thompson – James Madison University
Hannah Ranger- Longwood University
Lauryn Gardner – Radford University Carilion
Gracie Dooley – University of Virginia

Send a message to learn more

Address

321 N Bridge Street
Bedford, VA
24523

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(540) 586-5292

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bedford Community Health Foundation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Bedford Community Health Foundation:

Share