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Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION:

703-222-9764
TTY 711

NCS@fairfaxcounty.gov

12011 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035

Al Koroma,
Program Manager

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Stuff the Bus

Stuff the Bus logo with tagline "Fight Hunger in Our Neighborhoods!"

Stuff the Bus began in 2011 in response to a critical need to help restock the shelves of local food pantries after the holidays. This collaborative program is a partnership between Fairfax County Government and local nonprofits. Now in its 10th year, Stuff the Bus continues to support food assistance efforts for families and households. Since inception, Stuff the Bus has collected over 220 tons of food to feed hungry people in Fairfax County.

The next Stuff the Bus events will take place on Saturday, September 11, in honor of National Day of Service, and on Saturday, October 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

DONATION LOCATIONS for September 11, 2021:

View and print a flyer of all the Stuff the Bus donation locations for September 11, 2021.

District Location     Benefitting
Braddock

Braddock District Supervisor’s Office
9002 Burke Lake Road
Burke, VA 22015

 ECHO
Braddock Oaks Community Center
5708 Oak Leather Drive
Burke, VA 22015		 ECHO
Dranesville

McLean Government Center
1437 Balls Hill Road
McLean, VA 22101

 LINK
Dranesville Great Falls Grange
9818 Georgetown Pike
Great Falls, VA 22066		 LINK
Fairfax City Providence Elementary School
3616 Jermantown Road
Fairfax, VA 22030		 Food for Others 
Fairfax City Van Dyck Park
3720 Old Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA 22030		 Food for Others 
Fairfax County Fairfax County Government Center
12000 Government Center Parkway 
Fairfax, VA 22035		 Food for Others
Hunter Mill Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s Office
1801 Cameron Glen Drive
Reston, VA 20190		 CHO
Lee  Island Creek Elementary School
7855 Morning View Lane
Alexandria, VA 22315		 United Community
Lee  Gerry Hyland Government Center
(formerly South County Government Center)
8350 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309		 United Community
Mason  George Mason Regional Library
7001 Little River Turnpike
Annandale, VA 22003		 ACCA
Mason  Belvedere Elementary School
6540 Columbia Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041		 ACCA
Mount Vernon Laurel Hill Elementary School
8390 Laurel Crest Drive
Lorton, VA 22079		 LCAC
Providence  Providence Community Center
3001 Vaden Drive
Fairfax, VA  22031		 Food for Others
Providence  James Lee Community Center
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042		 Falls Church Community Services Council 
Springfield West Springfield Governmental Center
6140 Rolling Road
Springfield, VA  22152		 Koinonia
Springfield Pohick Regional Library
6450 Sydenstricker Road
Burke, VA 22015		 Koinonia
Sully  Sully Government Center
4900 Stonecroft Boulevard
Chantilly, VA  20151		 WFCM
Sully  Centreville Regional Library
14200 Saint Germain Drive
Centreville, VA  20121		 WFCM

Stuff the Bus Virtual Food Drive

For those who are unable to donate in person, monetary donations can be made by visiting Volunteer Fairfax's Stuff the Bus Donation Page. Monetary donations are beneficial for several reasons:

  1. More Meals - Nonprofits can turn a donated dollar into more meals by purchasing food in bulk or through special discounts from retailers.
  2. Feeding Diverse Communities - Monetary donations allow pantries to purchase culturally appropriate foods, which better meet the needs of the diverse communities they serve.
  3. Fresh Food - Canned and dry food are a vital part of food pantries, but a healthy diet also requires fresh fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy products and lean proteins – items that can’t be collected through food drives.
  4. Less Labor - Nonprofits often rely on the work of volunteers to sort and shelve donations. The COVID-19 virus has greatly impacted volunteers’ ability to serve.
  5. Hunger Never Takes a Break - Having cash on hand helps food pantries keep their shelves stocked during times of the year when donations drop off.

Tips for Donating Safely at Stuff the Bus infographic 1. Park your car. 2. Do not approach the bus driver or the front entrance of the bus. 3. Take your donation items to the back door of the bus. 4. If someone else is already at the rear of the bus, wait until they have departed before approaching. 5. Place your donation items in the rear of the bus. 6. Leave the bus door open as you depart.

Most Requested Items

If you plan to donate to the Stuff the Bus food drive, please consider giving items from this list. Because the average size of a family seeking food assistance is four people, the sizes indicated are preferred to reduce food spoilage. Additionally, donating items that are high fiber, low sugar and low sodium not only feed hungry people but also contribute to their overall health and wellness. 

  • Cooking oil
  • Corn Flour Maseca 
  • Bag (dry) beans, peas or lentils (16 oz.)
  • Rice - brown or white (5 lbs. or smaller)
  • Canned fruit in light syrup or juice (20 oz. or smaller)
  • Healthy hot and cold cereal (42 oz. or smaller)
  • Healthy snacks (e.g. raisins, granola bars)
  • Canned tuna, salmon or chicken (15 oz. or smaller)
  • Canned tomatoes - low sodium, no salt added (29 oz. or smaller)
  • Soup - lower sodium (19 oz. or smaller)
  • Canned pasta (16 oz. or smaller)
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Peanut butter (40 oz. or smaller)
  • Fruit jam (32 oz. or smaller)
  • Instant potatoes (16 oz. or smaller)
  • Pancake mix (32 oz. or smaller) and syrup
  • Canned vegetables - low sodium, no salt added (29 oz. or smaller)
  • Canned beans or peas (29 oz. or smaller)

The COVID-19 Pandemic has Increased the Need for Food in Fairfax County!

According to the Feeding America Impact of Coronavirus on Food Insecurity projections (published March 29, 2021), the food insecurity rate in Fairfax County is at 7.4% in 2021, up from 5.8% in 2019. That means that about 86,716 people in Fairfax are experiencing food insecurity.

The Capital Area Food Bank analyzed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our region in their Hunger Report 2021; they surveyed people using food bank services and found that:

  • Across the region, people who are newly food insecure (started going to free food distribution locations after March 2020) are more likely to have larger households and children and are more likely to be working compared to those who visited free food distribution locations before the pandemic. 
  • In Fairfax County, about 35% of people who visit free food distribution locations say that most or all of their food comes from such distributions. 
  • Food costs are on the rise, and about 37% of people who visited a free food distribution location said that their household spent $500 or more a month on food to prepare and eat at home.
  • The average amount of money spent per person on food per month is among the highest in the region at $110; only DC and Alexandria have higher average rates.

Food providers are working hard to make sure that their clients are getting food that fits their needs. In Fairfax County, about 90% of people visiting food distribution locations said that they received food that fits their nutritional and dietary needs most of the time, and about 85% say that they received food that fits with their culture’s cuisine most of the time.

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