How do you know if someone is hungry? When was last time they ate? These are hard questions to answer because hunger can be invisible in our community.
While Fairfax County has one of the highest median household incomes in the country, not having enough food to eat is a pressing issue for many residents. More than 105,000 people in Fairfax County experience hunger and have difficulty buying enough food for their families.
Experiencing hunger or food insecurity can look different across households:
- Children may have lunch at school, but do they have enough to eat for dinner at home?
- Are parents skipping dinner so their children have enough to eat? (This is more common than you might think)
- Does an older adult’s fixed income leave enough money to buy food after covering housing and medical costs?
- For a young adult who has just lost their job, which expense is the easiest to cut or replace with free resources – transportation, utilities, rent or food?
Stuff the Bus Food Drive
For nearly 15 years, our Stuff the Bus program has been a critical resource for local food pantries and families struggling with food insecurity. In partnership with local grocery stores, volunteers and community organizations, the program collects non-perishable food items and financial donations at various locations throughout the county.
Stuff the Bus returns for a one-day food drive on Sept. 13.
Fastran buses, along with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department trucks, will be at several sites from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. for this Hunger Action Month event to combat hunger. Please consider donating non-perishable food items and gift cards at these locations:
- Lidl, 9001 White Spruce Way, Lorton
- Giant, 2425 Centreville Road, Herndon
- Walmart Supercenter, 11181 US-29, Fairfax
- Giant, 1454 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean
- Giant, 1450 North Point Village Center, Reston
- Giant, 7137 Columbia Pike, Annandale
- Walmart, 4368 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly
- Giant, 7501 Huntsman Blvd., Springfield
Can't make it on Sept. 13? Then please consider a virtual Stuff the Bus donation through Volunteer Fairfax and choose local food pantries to support. Stuff the Bus returns at many locations across the county in January/February.
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.
- 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. SNAP benefits can also be used at many of our county farmers markets.
- 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.
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