Voter Registration Drive Held At Mount Vernon Church's Food Bank

This news is shared on behalf of the League of Women Voters.

On Aug. 27, League of Women Voters of the U.S. President Dr. Deborah Turner joined the LWV of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA) chapter’s Voter Registration Drive at the Rising Hope United Methodist Church’s food bank in Mount Vernon. The event is one of several outreach events that LWVFA developed with the support of a grant from Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, through its local affiliate Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), which distributes over 45 million meals annually across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

"Food is a basic human need," said Dr. Turner. "Only once people are able to provide food for themselves and their families are they able to focus on exercising their right to vote. I’m delighted that LWV of Fairfax is able to partner with the CAFB and engage in conversations with local food bank visitors about voter registration. A healthy and well-informed electorate ensures a healthy democracy," she added.

The LWVFA is working with the CAFB at area food banks in order to provide accurate, non-partisan voting and voter registration information.

"Individuals experiencing food scarcity in Fairfax County often are not afforded the same opportunities to register to vote or get reliable voting information," said Arina Van Breda, LWVFA Voter Registration Chair. "We hope that our voter registration drives will provide
those opportunities and encourage more residents to make their voices heard on issues that matter to them."

In addition to partnering with more than 450 organizations to distribute food, the CAFB also works with its network to provide critical services such as health care and skills development. Julia Lemp, CAFB Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator, represented the CAFB at the Voter Registration Drive.

The LWV is a non-partisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The Fairfax chapter regularly conducts voter registration events at Fairfax County schools, libraries, farmers markets, food banks and county fairs. For information on volunteering for such events, go to: www.lwv-fairfax.org/volunteers-2.