Food Needs in Alexandria

There are many hungry people in Alexandria. Nearly one out of every five of us live in a household struggling to make ends meet according to Toward an End to Hunger in Alexandria, a report prepared for the Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network in 2014.

Melanie Gray, Director of Outreach and Mission at Christ Church, explains that “many people who come for food are senior citizens, people who have jobs but don’t make enough to feed their families and people who are just getting by. They are all races, ages and backgrounds.”

Fortunately, there are services to help hungry people in Alexandria. Alexandria has food banks, food pantries, and emergency food kitchens. Food banks are organizations that distribute foods to charities in a region. The new Alexandria Food Center run by ALIVE (Alexandrians Involved Ecumenically) is an example of a food bank. Food pantries provide food directly to individuals who need it. Food for Others, the Salvation Army, Christ Church, Christ House,and the Carpenter’s Shelter (among others) provide food pantry services. Emergency food kitchens, like Christ House and the Carpenter’s Shelter, provide prepared meals.

Emergency food providers receive their supplies from a variety of places including food banks, food donations from individuals and organizations, and donations of money. There is always a need for donations and volunteer assistance at all of Alexandria’s emergency food providers. Donations tend to increase at holiday times, but are needed year-round.

Alexandria’s emergency food providers agree that they can make use of almost all donations. However, there are certain foods, including canned meats, peanut butter, low sodium items, and canned fruits and vegetables (see the accompanying Top Ten list) that are in the greatest demand. Charlotte Martinsson of ALIVE says, “People should try to imagine what it would be like to have empty cupboards, hungry children, and a rent bill coming due- and think about the type and amount of food that would be most beneficial in that situation.” The only donations that cannot be used are expired foods and open packages. Donations are crucial for all emergency food providers. Any questions should be directed to the providers below.

Emergency Food Providers in Alexandria

• ALIVE!
  • www.alive-inc.org
  • 703-837-9300
• Food for Others
  • http://www.foodforothers.org/
• Christ Church Lazarus Ministry
  • http://www.historicchristchurch.org/get-involved/let-us-help/lazarus-ministry
  • 118 North Washington Street
• Grace Episcopal Church’s food pantry
  • http://www.gracealex.org/Programs/New-Outreach-Mission/Food-Programs/
  • 3601 Russell Road
• Christ House Emergency Assistance food pantry
  • http://www.ccda.net/programs_christhouse.php
  • 131 S. West Street
• Washington Street United Methodist Church/Sara’s Open Table
  • http://wsumc.com/mission-and-ministry/open-table/
  • King and Washington Street
• Carpenter’s Shelter
  • http://www.carpentersshelter.org/
  • (703) 548-7500
• The Salvation Army
  • http://virginiasalvationarmy.org/ncac/
  • 107 East Bellefonte Avenue

This article was written by Catherine Smeallie and Caroline Friedrichs, members of the Alexandria Country Day School student service leadership group MUSCLE (Motivating You to Serve your Community through Leadership and Education), with help from their teachers Elizabeth Lockwood, Evelyn Chaleki, and Jessica Hernandez Basta and other MUSCLE members.