Food For Neighbors Holds Red Bag Event Supporting Local Schools

On Saturday, March 5th, Food For Neighbors held its fourth 2021-2022 school year Red Bag event, with huge food collections in five Northern Virginia areas: Falls Church, Fort Hunt, Herndon, Springfield, and Sterling. Thanks to generous community members, the nonprofit collected 17,811 pounds of food from 1,146 households. The Herndon Area alone collected 4,241 pounds!

This food will help to provide food security to over 1,500 vulnerable students weekly in 25 schools in Fairfax County and Loudoun County. Schools served by the Herndon Area collection include: Herndon Middle School, Herndon High School, Langston Hughes Middle School, South Lakes High School, and Mountain View High School. The Herndon Area also provides food to She Believes in Me, a sister nonprofit that also helps vulnerable students locally.

Lending a hand at the Falls Church collection and sorting site were Fairfax County School Board members Laura Jane Cohen, Springfield District Representative, and Karl Frisch, Providence District Representative.

“Many of our families in FCPS have long navigated food insecurity and, unfortunately, the pandemic has made access to basic resources even harder for so many more,” noted Cohen. “I’m incredibly grateful to Food For Neighbors for rising to meet that need and help our community navigate this difficult time. Our students cannot learn on empty bellies, and Food For Neighbors helps make sure that our kids can come prepared to tackle whatever lies ahead of them.”

Frisch agreed, "Food For Neighbors plays a vital role in addressing food insecurity throughout Fairfax County. They go above and beyond to serve our communities and make a positive impact in the lives of many students and their families. Being around such caring and committed individuals is always a rewarding experience."

Food For Neighbors invites residents throughout Northern Virginia to join its dedicated team of food donors, volunteers, and financial supporters. Additional schools are requesting services, and the extra help allows the nonprofit to reach even more students. To make a difference in your local schools, visit https://www.foodforneighbors.org/get-involved/.