Wrapping Up National Volunteer Week in Service

150 volunteers! That’s approximately how many community members rolled up their sleeves on April 27th to collect and sort over 4,400 pounds of food and toiletries bound for Herndon and Reston area schools–Herndon, Langston Hughes, and Rachel Carson middle schools and Herndon, Mountain View, and South Lakes high schools. These are six of 47 Food For Neighbors 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 the Herndon operational area, 34 volunteer drivers and their helpers collected over 4,400 pounds of food and toiletries from 358 generous households. The drivers then delivered the donations to Herndon Middle School or South Lakes High School, where over 80 volunteers sorted them. The Navy Federal Credit Union and the Debre Haile Kidus Raguel (DHKR) Ethiopian Orthodox Church–KENG Family joined community members in providing hands-on support, and the church also delivered food packs prepared by their youth and families.

“Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Red Bag Volunteering Event,” shared Azalech (Juju) Agedew of the DHKR Ethiopian Orthodox Church–KENG Family. “We had an amazing and rewarding experience, and grateful to be part of a well-organized and coordinated event. Most importantly our youth gained valuable experience and learned to give back their resources to the community and contribute to make a positive impact to the school students.”

Also participating at Herndon Middle School were the Food For Neighbors Board of Directors. Among the Directors is Pat Humphrey, who formerly served as the social worker at Herndon Middle School, where Food For Neighbors began over seven years ago.

"I have been in love with this program from the start,” shared Humphrey. Earlier, she explained that malnourished students frequently struggle with school attendance and success. Herndon Middle School was looking for a weekend food program, but, at the time, the programs were focused on children at the elementary school level–even though those same children grow into hungry middle and high school students. Food For Neighbors was the answer.

Food For Neighbors addresses teen food insecurity by helping schools establish in-house pantries and mobilizing 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. The nonprofit also offers grocery store gift cards for the most vulnerable students and their families to purchase the food they need most, like fresh fruits and vegetables.

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/.