Ways You Can Fight Hunger in Fairfax County

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Approximately 27% of residents are food insecure in Fairfax County, up from last year, and 20% of children across Fairfax are living in food insecure households. This data, provided by the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2026 Hunger Report, shows that despite being one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, hunger remains a concern for many in our community.
 

Hunger in Fairfax County

The 2026 Hunger Report highlights several staggering statistics:

• Growth in the cost of living in the DMV continues to outpace growth in earnings; average weekly earnings have increased 18%, while the Consumer Price Index (the price you pay for goods at the store) has increased 28% in the same time.
• Households are using savings for monthly expenses, making minimum payments on credit cards, and have stopped saving for the future in order to be able to put food on the table.
• Reliance on charitable food has increased, even as food banks, pantries and community meal programs are facing financial challenges which may force them to scale back services and resources.
• SNAP enrollment has declined in Virginia by 14.6%.
• 60% of households under financial strain are purchasing less healthy food, and 43% are skipping/delaying healthcare spending, while chronic disease rates among food insecure Fairfax residents are more severe and rising rapidly.
• The full effect of federal funding cuts has not yet been felt with H.R.1 cuts to SNAP over the next 10 years totaling $187 billion. As a result, both the food insecurity rate and demand on emergency food providers is expected to rise.

Take Action to Help Others

There are several ways you can help support those with food insecurity in Fairfax County:

• Stuff the Bus is a partnership between Fairfax County Government and local nonprofit organizations to stock the shelves of food pantries.
• Get involved with the Fairfax Food Council and explore ways to improve our food system and support healthy food access.
• Contact the organizations listed on this map to learn how you can support emergency food providers in your area.
• If you have fresh produce or other food to donate, go to the top right-hand corner of this map and click "Donate."
   

 How to Get Help

There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance:

• Call Coordinated Services Planning for assistance at 703-222-0880.
• Utilize the Emergency Food Access Map to connect to emergency food distributors across Fairfax County.
• Apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides funds that can be used like cash to buy eligible food items from authorized retailers.
• Sign up for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), a supplemental food program for pregnant, postpartum or nursing women, infants or children under five years of age.
• Request home-delivered meals for older adults who would like meals in their home.
• Apply for Free and Reduced Cost meals with FCPS.
• Find after-school meals programs at select schools.
• Visit the Human Services Resource Guide to find organizations that can assist.