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Loudoun food pantries reach out to all areas of the county
From Round Hill to Sterling Park; from Loudoun Heights to South Riding, local food pantries reach out to touch needy families...
Round Hill to Sterling Park; from Loudoun Heights to South Riding; local food pantries reach out to touch needy families in all four corners of Loudoun County.
Donations to all food pantries typically decrease during the summer months. However, hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation and many students who would otherwise eat breakfast and lunch at school may no longer have access to those meals during the summer.
The escalating cost of living combined with the loss of higher paying jobs has put many people in our area in a financial dilemma. Lower wage jobs appear to be a larger share of our community’s total employment. The surge in population and rising cost of housing in our community have added stress on resources and make it much harder for lower wage earners to make ends meet. Those with modest income struggle to pay for housing, groceries, childcare, health care, and education among other essentials. Demand for food, for dental and medical care and assistance for rent and utilities has dramatically increased. Middle class families are economizing and shopping at thrift stores as they attempt to tackle an unfamiliar and uncompromising economy. For many Americans, it just doesn’t make sense.
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Imagine the difficulty of choosing whether your family eats or has clothes on their back? Many families with children living in at-risk situations depend on local food pantries in order to have enough money to make rent. Keeping families stable in the same home helps children remain in one school and prevents them from experiencing the loss of family members, friends and familiar neighborhoods.
Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, released "Map the Meal Gap 2016"at https://map.feedingamerica.org... provides estimates of food insecurity at the county and congressional district level.
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Food insecurity is the term that is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to describe the lack of access to enough food to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. The term is applied if an individual or family experiences this circumstance at any time during a 12 month period.
In a 2016 study conducted by Feeding America, it was revealed that among the eight counties with a median household income of at least $100,000, each one has a child food insecurity rate of approximately 10 percent. This includes Loudoun County in Virginia, the wealthiest county in the United States with a median household income of $125,900.
Loudoun’s food insecurity rate is 4.3% or approximately 16,000 people (based on approximately 380,000 population)
Loudoun’s child food insecurity rate is 9.5% or approximately 9,660 children.
The highest rate of food insecurity is found in Holmes County, Mississippi, where 33.4 percent of the population is food insecure. Los Angeles County has the highest number of food insecure individuals with 1.5 million of residents experiencing hunger. This equates to 14.7 percent of the population.
In Loudoun County weekly grocery requirements for local food banks are great. The crux of the problem is that during summer there is an increased concern for needy families with school-age kids because there are few school breakfast or lunch programs during this time.
Due to the extraordinarily high demand for food to support our neighbors, the local food pantry shelves require your donations to fill them to the maximum. Food and monetary donations are desperately needed to serve needy families.
Foods that will help the most are peanut butter, jelly, cereal, cake and cookie mixes, canned tomato products, bagged beans or rice, canned black beans, canned chicken, canned fruit, oatmeal, canned chili and all types of soups.
Catholic Charities Loudoun
Clients may access once every 4 weeks. Clients self-select the foods they need.
Meals on Wheels service for seniors. Other programs include free baby formula, canned soup, groceries, and more.
Get help in applying for SNAP food stamps, or use the thrift store for school supplies and toys.
Food assistance and telephone hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Financial assistance by appointment only: Monday to Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Limited financial assistance for rent and utilities
• Limited emergency food assistance
• Information and referrals to medical, educational, legal, governmental, and other services
Crossroads United Methodist Church - Grace Ministries
Food Pantry/church address - 43454 Crossroads Drive Ashburn, VA 20147
Telephone number - (703) 729-5100
Food and Clothes distribution is held the third Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
A clothing closet and food pantry are on site.
https://www.crossroadsnova.org...
Dulles South Food Pantry
Arcola United Methodist Church
24757 Evergreen Mill Road Dulles, VA
20166703-507-2795
Multi-faith food pantry located at Arcola United Methodist Church serving families in the Dulles South (within the boundaries of John Champe High School, Freedom High School and Brambleton Middle School) regardless of income. Food pantry is available 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and other Wednesdays by appointment. Call 703-507-2795, email info@dsfp.org or visit https://dsfp.org/
First time guests must fill out a Guest Registration Form (available on website).
Grace Ministries
Sterling United Methodist Church
304 East Church Road Sterling, VA 20164 703-430-6455
Serving families in Sterling/Loudoun communities. Monthly food and clothing distribution on the second Saturday monthly. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. Distribution is from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Loudoun Hunger Relief
750 Miller Drive, Suite A-1
Leesburg, VA
703-777-5911
https://www.loudounhunger.org/
May visit two times per month. Must provide picture ID and proof of Loudoun County residency.
Open 6 days a week
Drop-in Food Distribution Hours 10 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.:
Mon, Wed, Fri and SatOr by appointment:
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm
Just call (703) 777-5911
Food Donation Hours Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
When you visit, we supply enough food to prepare three nutritionally- balanced meals for three days for every member of your family. Our staff can help you with special dietary requirements and can also help you determine if you qualify for USDA assistance. Provide some home delivery to senior citizens in partnership with Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers (http://lvcaregivers.org/). Loudoun Hunger Relief also provides pet food through the Loudoun Pet Pantry partnership with the Humane Society of Loudoun County and Loudoun County Animal Services.
LINK Food Pantry
P. O. Box 443
Sterling, Virginia 20167
Dial (703) 437-1776
http://www.linkagainsthunger.o...
Serves Ashburn, Herndon and Sterling residents with food items that have been donated (Faith-based). Hours: Not applicable. (Representative usually delivers food to client’s home.)
Call and leave a message and a volunteer will contact you.
Mobile Pantry: Second Tuesday of each month (rain or shine) at Christ the Redeemer, rear parking lot (46833 Harry Byrd Highway – Sterling) from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Messiah’s Market
Ashburn Community Church
19790 Ashburn Road
Ashburn, VA. 20147
571-209-5000
http://www.communitychurch.cc/...
Families in need can receive groceries once per week. Must provide picture ID that shows proof of Loudoun County residency.Hours: Monday and Tuesday – 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Reston Bible Church
45650 Oakbrook Court
Sterling, VA 20166
https://www.restonbible.org/ca...
703-404-5010
Wednesday 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
The food pantry at Reston Bible Church feeds 150 families in Loudoun County every week.
Needy families can use the emergency pantry. There are also Thanksgiving and Christmas meals programs.
Salvation Army Meal Distribution Program
703-771-3371 – Saturday Evenings – Hot Meal Program
Hours: 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Shenandoah Office Building Parking Lot
102 Heritage Way, N.E.
Leesburg, VA
http://virginiasalvationarmy.o...
4:00 p.m. until 4:45 p.m.
Sterling Park Plaza Shopping Center (near Big Lots)
South Sterling Boulevard
Sterling, VA
Residents who need financial assistance may contact the Salvation Army of Loudoun County for help and advice. The non-profit distributes assistance for a number of basic needs. While food and meals are offered, programs also offer help for paying utility bills, rent, prescriptions, groceries, clothing, and furniture.There are also Christmas toys for kids and holiday meals.
A caseworker will sit down and meet the individual who needs help. They will then determine a client's eligibility for food or financial assistance based on need. The Salvation Army thrift stores provide free or low cost household items, furniture, and clothing at a low-cost rate.
Seven Loaves Services
Middleburg United Methodist Church
15 W. Washington Street
Middleburg, VA
https://www.sevenloavesmiddleb...
540-687-3489
May visit one time per week. Must present ID that shows client’s name and address at first visit each year.In 2013, Seven Loaves served patrons from 18 counties in Virginia.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
St. James Episcopal Church – Grace to Go Hot Meal Program
14 Cornwall Street
Leesburg, VA 20176
703-777-1124
Free Meal served on each Monday of every Month; 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
First come, first serve basis in the parking lot.
Approximately 200 meals serves each Monday.
Sterling Park Baptist Food Pantry
Sterling Park Baptist Church
501 North York Road
Sterling, VA
703-430-2527
Serves Ashburn and Sterling residents. Grocery delivery available.
Hours: Located in the church's facility, food pantry is open for distribution on the third Saturday morning of every month from 9 a.m. through 10:15 a.m. The food is distributed after a brief worship service in Spanish.
The Tree of Life Food Pantry
Tree of Life Center
210 North 21st Street
Unit D
Purcellville, VA 20132
540-441-7920
For residents living west of Leesburg. Call between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and leave name and number; they will contact client within two business days. Limited number of visits within six-month period (Christian-based).
Hours: Not applicable. (Representative delivers to client.)
Free Dinner served every Thursday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Tree of Life Center (individuals and families of all ages invited).
Volunteers of America Chesapeake, Inc.
19520 Meadowview Court
Leesburg, Virginia 20175
Telephone number is (571) 258-3033
This is also a Homeless Services Center. Emergency food boxes, meals, and other aid can be provided to people of all backgrounds, including the homeless.Organization can also arrange for Christmas meals to the homeless and people living in need.
Western Loudoun Food Pantry
(Lovettsville Area)
Clients may access once every 4 weeks and may be referred by a Loudoun County Parent Liaison or by a local Pastor. The pantry accepts donations Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Contact the church office at New Jerusalem Lutheran Church at phone 540-822-5576 or by email njlc@loudounwireless.com for more information.
WIC
Supplemental Food Program
703-777-0239
With offices located in Ashburn and Leesburg, the Health Department's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is a supplemental food program, which offers nutritional counseling and education. WIC serves pregnant or lactating women, infants, and children five years old and younger who meet income, medical, and/or nutritional eligibility requirements.
Special Note: Feed Loudoun continues to make weekly fresh donations to Loudoun Interfaith with their collection from the Cascades Farmers Market. The Feed Loudoun collection ranges from 400 to sometimes 800 lbs. of fresh produce per week commencing with Memorial Day weekend and continuing through the Halloween harvest season. Feed Loudoun could use more volunteers to help with these produce collections. If Feed Loudoun can consistently cover the Sunday pick up with volunteers they will expand to cover other markets. If you know of anybody who has 3 hours to spare on Sunday afternoons, please contact Julia Brizendine at jbrizendine@feedloudoun.org.
If you have current information regarding Loudoun food pantries, please contact Mark Gunderman at gunderman2001@aol.com.
