Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, local Boy Scouts hosted their annual November Scouting for Food event which provided AFAC with over 50,000 lbs of non-perishable canned and dry goods every year. Because AFAC depends on these donations to help us meet increased demand during the holiday season, the Boy Scouts have restructured their event this year to collect and deliver much needed donations to AFAC, while keeping everybody distanced and safe.

This year instead of one Scouting for Food Saturday culminating in a gathering to sort donations, each troop is making their own plans to pick up food from Arlington homes to drop off directly at AFAC. If you received a flyer or bag on your door, please check the pickup time and date. While many troops are planning to collect donations starting at 8am this Saturday (November 13th), others have schedule pickups for different dates.

If you did not receive a bag or flyer specifying a pickup time and date, please do not put food out on your porch.

If you missed the pick up or the scouts are not coming to your neighborhood, here is a small list of other upcoming public food drives:

National Landing & 22202 Civic Neighborhoods - now through November 21

UUCA Food & Coat Drive - Saturday, November 13

Arlington Farmers' Market - November 20

Arlington Parks & Recreation Centers - November 20-21

Melwood's Miracle on 23rd Street - December 3

For a list of locations with ongoing food drive boxes, click here.

Register now for Arlington's annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. AFAC is one of 6 primary beneficiaries for this popular event. For more information, visit the event page.

Our staff drivers need help for several hours most weekdays. Please go to the online calendar and find a shift that works for you. We encourage people to try it out a few times before making a commitment, but we are looking for people to consider signing up once a week (or every other week) so that it becomes more of a routine.

Thank you to Jeff and Sarah-Kate for all their help these last 18 months. Combined, they served 1489 service hours! They began their volunteer efforts when the pandemic forced them from their Peace Corps assignment in Fiji. We're grateful for all of their assistance and wish them the best as they start new adventures in the Chesapeake/Virginia Beach area.