Food For Neighbors Holds Red Bag Food Collection for Area Schools

On Saturday, March 5th, Food For Neighbors held its fourth 2021-2022 school year Red Bag event, with huge food collections in five Northern Virginia areas: Falls Church, Fort Hunt, Herndon, Springfield, and Sterling. Thanks to generous community members, the nonprofit collected 17,811 pounds of food from 1,146 households. The Sterling/Ashburn Area alone collected 2,372 pounds!

This food will help to provide food security to over 1,500 vulnerable students weekly in 25 schools in Fairfax County and Loudoun County. Schools served in the Sterling/Ashburn Area include: Potomac Falls High School, River Bend Middle School, Parkview High School, Sterling Middle School, Seneca Ridge Middle School, and Stone Bridge High School.

Lending a hand at the Falls Church collection and sorting site were Fairfax County School Board members Laura Jane Cohen, Springfield District Representative, and Karl Frisch, Providence District Representative.

“Many of our families in FCPS have long navigated food insecurity and, unfortunately, the pandemic has made access to basic resources even harder for so many more,” noted Cohen. “I’m incredibly grateful to Food For Neighbors for rising to meet that need and help our community navigate this difficult time. Our students cannot learn on empty bellies, and Food For Neighbors helps make sure that our kids can come prepared to tackle whatever lies ahead of them.”

Frisch agreed, "Food For Neighbors plays a vital role in addressing food insecurity throughout Fairfax County. They go above and beyond to serve our communities and make a positive impact in the lives of many students and their families. Being around such caring and committed individuals is always a rewarding experience."

Food For Neighbors invites residents throughout Northern Virginia to join its dedicated team of food donors, volunteers, and financial supporters. More Red Bag food donors are greatly needed in our newer Ashburn area. To make a difference in your local schools, visit https://www.foodforneighbors.org/get-involved/.