October 2024

WFCM News For You

Executive Director's Update

October 1st begins the second quarter of WFCM's fiscal year, and we are looking forward to participating in community fall festivals, the Sully District Scouting for Food drive, and our Thanksgiving grocery distribution. The first quarter ended with our Client Resource Fair on September 28th that followed a flu vaccination clinic on the 14th and the re-start of our Free Food Fridge program supporting Fairfax County Public Schools with 700+ weekend meals weekly. These initiatives support the full health of people so that each one can thrive.

Your support during the first quarter helped us serve 932 unduplicated* families, consisting of 3,011 individuals! We provided $129,000 in rent/utility assistance and more than 2,200 food market appointments during which clients selected 331,000 lbs. of food.

Your support makes a difference in the lives of our neighbors. Mark, a senior living in Centreville, reached out to WFCM in August to request rent assistance due to a reduction in income based on seasonal work that pays less in the summer. After a few months of falling behind, he had a court order that required payment by August 30^th. His WFCM case worker was able to quickly work with him to make the rent payment prior to the due date, and Mark found a new job with higher and more consistent pay during the process. In early September we received this message from Mark, “I was in danger of being evicted and approached several organizations seeking financial assistance. WFCM was very fast in their response, unlike some other agencies. Without their help I would probably be homeless at this time. I'm eternally grateful to the fine people of WFCM.”

We are thankful for the support of county government and many local congregations, businesses, foundations, and individuals. Together we ensure Mark, and thousands of people in our community who turn to WFCM for assistance, remain safely housed.

Thank you to each of you who support the work of WFCM. I hope to see many of you at the Walk to End Hunger on October 19th & Fall Fundraiser on October 20th! Learn more.

God bless,

Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director

(Photos above are from Hunger Action Month. Several WFCM team members in our orange shirts (orange is the color of hunger), donation from Korean Central Presbyterian for our Food Markets, and leaders from Wegmans Chantilly during a tour of our Chantilly Market. Thank you for helping raise awareness about food insecurity and funds for solutions during September.)

*Unduplicated means that we may have served the family more than one time (such a providing food in July, August, and September) but they are only counted once.

What's New in the Food Markets and Client Services with Pamela Montesinos, Deputy Director

In September, we served 705 families in our Free Food Markets; 208 in Centreville. That is a 14% increase compared to September 2023. We served 24 families for the first time.

You may note that the amount spent on food and the bags of food provided was lower in September 2024 compared to September 2023. This is the direct impact of the decrease in county grant funds that means we cannot purchase as many items for families and that they are therefore receiving less food. However, WFCM was able to stretch each $1 of our county grant for emergency food into a value of $32.34 of groceries during the month of September. Each individual received an average of $97 of groceries, or $291 in groceries for a family of 3.

As a reminder, due to new guidelines by the Greater DC Diaper Bank, we are providing 50 diapers per baby per month (as opposed to 100 or 75 per baby per month in the past) which is the reason for the decrease in diapers provided. There was not a decrease in families/babies served. We remain thankful for this partnership which still provides a value of $20 in diapers per baby each month for families and allows us to provide diapers for all clients with babies/toddlers under 3 years of age, as well as additional eligible families in the community.

WFCM's Client Resource Fair, held Saturday September 28th, served 91 families. WFCM and our partners provided information with the goal of improving health, digital access, literacy, and financial literacy for these families in our community. WFCM staff members provided a cooking demo with the ingredients for the recipe provided to families by Wegmans Chantilly. We were also able to distribute Chick-fil-A gift cards, popcorn, and more.

Thank you, Wegmans Chantilly and Chick-fil-A Chantilly, for supporting this event!

Thank you, Walgreens Chantilly, for partnering with WFCM for a Flu Vaccine Clinic on Saturday September 14th. Vouchers permitted uninsured families to receive their vaccines at our Chantilly Free Food Market location, while team members assisted with paperwork and translation.

Most needed items in the Free Food Market this month:

Flour (Maseca preferred)
Sugar (1 or 2 lb. bags)
Vegetable Oil
Pasta Sauce
Pasta
Cereal (low sugar preferred)
Pancake Mix
Family Sized Snacks (crackers, pretzels)
Canned Chicken
Canned beans (white/black/red)
Canned fruit

Toiletries: bar soap, body wash, toothpaste, hair shampoo, toilet paper, and baby wipes (NOTE: we are not currently in need of diapers size 0-5 due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate larger size pull ups size 4T/5T for toddlers, size 6 diapers, or baby wipes if you want to donate items for babies.)

As a reminder, we accept food and toiletry donations Monday - Friday 8-10 am at 4511

Daly Drive Suite H (Back Door) and on the second Saturday monthly 9-11 am.

Community Connections

with Diane Beatley

Sr. Manager, Community Engagement

Partner Spotlight: Pathways to Success Program Sponsors

September brought a new program year for WFCM’s Pathways to Success (PTS) program. Through this resiliency program, five families will work over the course of ten months to increase savings and decrease debt to achieve self-sufficiency. The families participate together in a Financial Peace University class and meet one-on-one with a budget counselor each month.

This special program would not be possible without generous grants from TD Charitable Foundation and Sentara Health Plans, and sponsorships from St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Centreville United Methodist Church. Thank you for your support!

Registration closes October 4th. Don't miss out!

Fall Fellowship Dinner 2024

Join us for an evening of fellowship featuring live classical guitar music, a delicious Italian buffet dinner with appetizers and dessert, and raffle/door prizes. Enjoy the online auction in advance.

Purchase tickets by October 4, 2024.

Virtual Silent Auction

Registered Fall Fundraiser guests will be invited to participate in a virtual silent auction October 15 - 17, 2024. Don't miss out on the opportunity to bid on some amazing items!

Theatre Tickets
Luray Nature Bundle
Massage Certificates
Tailgating at a Polo Match

Casual and Fine Dining
Golf Foursomes
A Storage Rack for your Garage
and many more!

Thank You Sponsors!

The Fall Fundraiser would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.

This month we highlight the Appetizer Sponsor, Italian Buffet Sponsors, Dessert Sponsor, Registration Sponsor and Centerpiece Sponsor. Look for more sponsor recognition on the event webpage and in upcoming newsletters.