Wrapping Up National Volunteer Week in Service

80 volunteers! That’s approximately how many community members rolled up their sleeves on April 27th to collect and sort over 2,100 pounds of food and toiletries bound for Arlington Public Schools–Arlington Career Center, Arlington Community High School, Gunston Middle School, Kenmore Middle School, Wakefield High School, and Washington-Liberty High School. These are six of 47 Food For Neighbors (FFN) schools that received nearly 26,000 pounds of donations collected. It was the perfect way to highlight the power of volunteerism as National Volunteer Week came to a close.

In Arlington County, 19 volunteer drivers and their helpers collected over 2,100 pounds of food and toiletries from 185 generous households. The drivers then delivered the donations to Kenmore Middle School, where nearly 40 volunteers sorted them for delivery to nearby schools. Hyatt Regency Crystal City and Girl Scout Troop 60262 delivered additional food drive donations, and Strategic Engineering Solutions and the Raising Responsible Citizens Education Foundation were among groups that joined community members in providing hands-on support.

“It really was a lovely event!” shared Annie Julaine, Outreach Manager with the Raising Responsible Citizens Education Foundation. “Everyone was super supportive and helpful with each other. The volunteers were all sharing tasks and it is really nice to see how people of every age gathered to support the community. We would love to be a part of it again.”

Food For Neighbors helps schools establish in-house pantries and mobilizes communities surrounding the schools to fill them with food and toiletries donated through the nonprofit's popular Red Bag Program. This makes food readily accessible for students to get a boost of energy during the school day and to take home to enjoy over weekends and holidays.

School staff, who connect Food For Neighbors resources with teens in need, have shared heartfelt stories about the gratitude and relief that students and their families feel when they receive the supplemental food support. Staff surveys also reflect that the majority of students experience multiple, positive impacts, including more regular school attendance and better focus. This helps students reach their full potential, which lifts them and the community up as a whole.

Karen Joseph, Founder and Executive Director, greatly appreciates the many community members that make Food For Neighbors’ mission possible. She shared, “As National Volunteer Week comes to a close, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who has dedicated your time and energy to our mission at Food For Neighbors. Your commitment lights the way toward a brighter future, free from childhood hunger. Your actions inspire hope and warmth within our community. We are deeply grateful for your efforts and truly could not do this without you. Thank you for being such an integral part of our journey and for your continued support.”

To learn more about Food For Neighbors and join more than 3,000 Red Bag donors and over 3,400 volunteers in making a difference, scan the below QR code or visit https://www.foodforneighbors.org/get-involved/.