Cornerstones, Giant Team Up For Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

RESTON, VA — In a typical year, Cornerstones supports about 750 families through its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. This year, the Reston-based nonprofit is anticipating more than 1,000 families will be requesting holiday meals.

"We have definitely had an uptick this year, basically recognizing there are still folks that are not comfortable going out during COVID-19 or spending lots of time inside stores or crowded spaces," said Nate King, the donations and drives coordinator at Cornerstones.

In order to meet the increased demand and alleviate the health concerns of its donors and clients, Cornerstones reached out to the Giant Food Store in the North Point Center for help. Now, anyone who wishes to make a donation can drop off $50 at the Giant, which is located at 1450 North Point Center in Reston. The store will then use that money to purchase and package the holiday food, which Cornerstone volunteers will pick up in November during the food drive.

"This takes out the whole equation of, 'OK, I'm signed up. Now I've got to brace myself to go into a store to find all these items on this list,'" King said. "The $50 will cover a $25 gift card, which is part of the purchase we request. It also purchases all the nonperishable food items that we request that are normally delivered to us."

Cornerstones hopes to collect two boxes of food per family, which allows them to provide food for Thanksgiving and the winter holiday. It also means they only have to conduct one food drive in November rather than two separate ones a month apart.

"The whole COVID situation has caused a huge change across the board," King said. "By doing this with North Point Giant, it gives our donors the opportunity to contribute without putting themselves at risk or increasing their risk super-much. It should be a 5-minute transaction. It allows us to collect the food that we definitely need to help those that need it."

Cornerstones will be accepting food donations for the 2020 Thanksgiving Drive at St. John Neumann Catholic Church (11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20131). Cornerstones will also be accepting donations of gift cards for its annual Gifts For Kids Drive. When families pick up their Thanksgiving food, they will also receive gift cards in lieu of physical gifts for the safety of the clients, volunteers, and donors. Donations for the food drive and the gift drive may be dropped off Monday-Thursday, Nov. 16-19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Friday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Recommended Thanksgiving Donations:

• 3 cans, assorted veggies (please no green beans)
• 2 cans, fruit
• 1 bottle, olive or canola cooking oil (24 ounces or less)
• 1 box, rice or 2-5 pound bag of rice
• 1 box, biscuit or muffin mix
• 1 snack - pretzels, chips, nuts, etc.
• 1 box of dessert mix - brownies, cookies, cake, etc.
• 1 bag of flour, 2 pounds
• 1 bag of sugar, 2 pounds
• 1 $25 gift card placed in an envelope separate from the food donations. Giant/Safeway/Harris Teeter cards will be used to purchase a turkey or ham entree.

"We recognize that COVID causes a whole different dynamic this year with people's comfort levels," King said. "Since the economy has taken a downswing, we anticipate that there are going to be more in need this year. Recognizing the need is greater and the likelihood of people not participating due to concern, we wanted to have an easier step for those who have those concerns."

Cornerstones has designed a COVID-19-safe process for clients picking up their food boxes on Saturday, Nov. 21. They won't have to get out of their cars to get their food this year. All they have to do is drive up, pop their trunk, and a volunteer will place the food inside.

Food will also be distributed on Nov. 21, at five satellite locations throughout Reston: Crescent, Cedar Ridge, Stonegate, Southgate, and Westglade Apartments.

For more information or to register to donate, visit the Cornerstones website.