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TextFairfax County Partners with Local Bus Company, Grocery Stores & Nonprofits to “Stuff the Bus”
Jan. 15, 2013 // Updated Feb. 7
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We need your help.
It may be a new year, but many people continue to go hungry in our community. For many local, nonprofit food pantries donations drop to one of the lowest points. To help address this need, Fairfax County is promoting "Stuff the Bus: Feeding Fairfax Families," at 10 locations from Jan. 21 to Feb. 18. This collaborative program, in its third year, is a partnership among Fairfax County Government, local grocery stores and nonprofits to restock the shelves.
Each week a Fastran bus staffed by MV Transportation personnel will park at a different location and collect food donations. The campaign kicks off Jan. 21, the Martin Luther King Day of Service, and will run each weekend until President’s Day, Feb. 18.
All donation hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
Jan. 21
Village Center at Dulles Shoppers
Benefiting Reston Interfaith
Jan. 26
Mount Vernon Plaza Shoppers
Benefiting United Community Ministries
Oakton Giant
Benefiting Community Helping Others
Feb. 2
Lorton Valley Giant
Benefiting Lorton Community Action Center
Fairfax Walmart
Benefiting Our Daily Bread
Feb. 9
Loehmann’s Plaza Giant
7235 Arlington Blvd.
Falls Church, VA 22042
Benefiting Falls Church Community Service Council
Fair City Mall Shoppers
9622 Main Street
Fairfax, VA 22031
Benefiting Food for Others
Feb. 16
McLean Giant
1454 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22101
Benefiting Share, Inc.
Clifton Giant
5740 Union Mill Road
Clifton, VA 20124
Benefiting James Mott Community Assistance Program
Feb. 18
Huntsman Square Giant
7501 Huntsman Blvd.
Springfield, VA 22153
Benefiting Ecumenical Community Helping Others
Fox Mill Giant
2551 John Milton Drive
Herndon, VA 20171
(Benefitting Helping Hungry Kids)
In the 2012 food drive, more than 25,000 lbs. of food was collected for local pantries, all benefiting local nonprofits that help feed needy families in the Fairfax community.
"Stuff the Bus is an important component in restocking pantries after the holidays," noted Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. "The need for healthy food is ever growing and the interest for Fairfax County residents to help is there, so we are happily providing the bridge to bring them together."
This program was initiated by Fairfax County and MV Transportation to combat a drop of food donations after the holidays and to address the rise in food security issues across the county:
- In 2010, 1 out of 5 county students reported going hungry at least some of the time in the past 30 days.
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Since 2008, the number of food stamp participants in Fairfax
County increased more than 115 percent, which equals more than
4.5 percent of the population accessing the food stamp program.
"Food pantries address a critical need which is especially acute after the holidays, the Stuff the Bus campaign helps us help our community. Its importance to helping stock the shelves can't be overstated," said Roxanne Rice, executive director, Food for Others.
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