Last Saturday, scouts from the Chain Bridge District of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America canvassed Arlington, picking up food donations door to door. Dozens of volunteers helped to transport, sort, and package more than 56,000 pounds of food. These donations will keep AFAC's shelves stocked throughout the holiday season and will ensure that 2,200+ families can gather around a warm meal this Thanksgiving. Thank you to the scouts, members in the community, volunteer groups from the Emory Alumni Association, Bloomberg BNA, SeKON Enterprise, ASCEND, and AFAC volunteers for making this food drive a success!

Caroline and Helen Otteni have been holding peanut butter and jelly drives every summer for the past 5 years. This summer, they were able to donate over 1,300 jars for our families in need. These two girls were featured in the latest Arlington Magazine cover story, Teaching Kids to Care.

Cheryl Falcone, a volunteer with Bethel United Church of Christ, was interviewed in PBS: Next Avenue's article titled The Joys of Volunteering with Your Grandchild.

To mark the end of their farmers' market season, the Crystal City Farmers' Market will host their Fresh Food Drive on Tuesday, November 21 from 3-7pm. Patrons can purchase farm fresh produce to donate to AFAC. Click here for more information.

Volunteers are needed to talk to people about AFAC and encourage donations through the food drive. You will pass out information about AFAC, donations, and healthy recipes. The event is outdoors so dress appropriately. Sign up using the online calendar.

2:30-5pm: 2 volunteers needed. At least one will need to pick up supplies (cooler, handouts) from AFAC and set up the table.

5-7:15pm: 2 volunteers needed. Volunteers will need to help return supplies (and donations) to the AFAC truck when it arrives at the end of the market.

Have you signed up to run in this year's  Arlington Turkey Trot? Last day to register is Monday!  See race website for details and registration: http://www.arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org/

Turkey Trot organizers are hosting a wine tasting at Screwtop Wine Bar on Sunday, November 19 from 4-6pm. Free wine tasting for race participants and discounts on retail purchases.

Turkey Trot proceeds go to six Arlington charities, including AFAC.

In less than 2 weeks, AFAC will be participating in #GivingTuesday. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Last year, your Giving Tuesday donations helped us purchase two brand new vans. This year, we would like your help to purchase a forklift for our warehouse!

With a completion date of early 2018 for our building renovations, we will have the ability to store more food vertically in our storage space next door. If we can store more food on site, it will mean less money spent on delivery charges and offsite storage units and even better prices on bulk food purchases. 

More details will be released as we get closer to #GivingTuesday.

Kick off your holiday season in Shirlington at Light Up the Village from 6:00-8:30pm. The family-friendly event will feature musical performances, a tree lighting ceremony, face painting and balloon animals, pictures with Santa, and horse and carriage rides. The horse and carriage rides are staffed by AFAC volunteers and admission for this portion is a non-perishable or monetary donation. We could use some volunteers for the evening (14+ and able to withstand the cold for a couple of hours). If you're interested in helping, please see our online calendar.

AFAC will be at the annual Gifts that Give Hope event, an alternative gift fair where shoppers can honor their friends and family by donating to local nonprofits and supporting those in need. This year's event will be at Discovery Elementary School on Saturday, December 9 from 10am to 2pm. Click here for more event details.

Are you a potter or know local ceramicists?  AFAC seeks donations of bowls for AFAC's 6th annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser on Sunday, February 4, 2018. 

Contact [email protected] for information on how to donate to this delicious community event that brings together the talents of visual, culinary and musical artists.

Huge thanks to the 4th graders at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Lower School for collecting and donating 2,553 pounds of canned goods to AFAC!

Thank you to the students of Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School for donating 1,218 pounds of food.

Incredible thanks to Society of St Andrews and Marker Miller Farm for gleaning and donating 901 + pounds of fresh apples!

Excellent work by Yvonne Brandt's students from Spielen Violin Studio for their Strings for AFAC performance at a local metro station, where they raised over $160 in one night!

Thank you to the schools who donated leftovers from the Food Bus program: Arlington Science Focus ES, Arlington Traditional ES, Discovery ES, McKinley ES, Nottingham ES, Tuckahoe ES, Temple Rodef Shalom's Religious School.

Thank you to all those who held food drives or donated to Plot Against Hunger!

10th & Barton Community Garden, Arlington Central Library, Arlington Church of the Brethren, Arlington Montessori House, Bellevue Forest Garden Club, Bo Pryor's CSA, Calvary UMC, Clarendon Presbyterian Church & Garden, Emily Rhoades' Garden, Episcopal High School Garden, First Presbyterian Church & Garden, Fort Barnard Community Garden, Glebe Community Garden, Good Food Company, Grace Community Church & Garden, Hari Thariani Orthodontics, JEB Stuart High School Theater, Junior League of Northern Virginia, KPMG, NOVA Catholic Community, Potomac Overlook Garden, Restoration Anglican Church, Resurrection Lutheran Church & Garden, Rock Spring UCC & Garden, Saint Ann Catholic Church, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church & Garden, St. John's Episcopal Church, St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Susan Howell's Gardens, US Patent & Trademark Office, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Walter Reed Community Garden, Westover Branch Library, Woman's Club of Arlington Garden