Weekend Food Assistance Programs
When the school week is over, many children in our community struggle with hunger on the weekends. Please see the following resources for information on starting or assisting with a weekend food assistance program for children in your community.
Power Pack Program (P3)
The Power Pack Program (P3) was created to provide elementary-school students with a food pack for the weekend. Volunteers are needed to donate food for the packs, assemble the packs, and/or deliver the packs to elementary schools. For more information on this program, visit the website or reach out to Nikki Clifford at P3@foodforothers.org.
Food4Thought
Through its Food4Thought program, Britepaths partners with Parent Teacher Associations, social workers and staff at partner Fairfax County Public Schools to help them create packages of non-perishable foods and drinks to send home each weekend with children in their school who have been identified as having need for food assistance. Britepaths provides technical support to the schools and passes on donations (minus a minimal administrative fee) from community members who would like to help. For more information on this program, you may contact Cora Lundgren at clundgren@britepaths.org.
WFCM’s Free Food Fridge
The WFCM Free Food Fridge program provides fresh, healthy food for weekend meals for students in FCPS locations in Centreville, Chantilly, and Westfield. Currently, WFCM partners with 12 elementary, middle, and high schools in FCPS Regions 4 and 5 to provide and stock refrigerators weekly for students to take home food for the weekend. We also work with 3 schools to provide modified healthy weekend meals without refrigerators due to their capacity. We are thankful for the partnership of the school Social Workers and other staff that make this program possible in these schools. Learn more by watching this video or email info@wfcmva.org for ways to get involved with this program.
Resources