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Executive Director's Update
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Happy New Year! We, at WFCM, are entering this new calendar year with gratitude and hope. Due to the generosity of many congregations, organizations, and individuals, WFCM staff and volunteers ended the year providing December holiday/school's out food and resources to more than 600 families. We also ended the year exceeding our calendar year-end fundraising goal which is critical for us to continue serving families at the higher level of needs we are seeing as we enter the new calendar year.
We are filled with the hope of connecting with more families who need support with the essential provisions of food and housing. Last year the addition of a second client-choice food pantry in Centreville helped us to connect with and serve more families. As we continue to increase families served at that location, we are also introducing an online ordering system for families that need delivery or curbside pickup so that they too can experience the benefits of the client-choice food model we offer.
We are also excited to establish a new Free Food Fridge at Greenbriar Elementary School this month. This is our twelfth Free Food Fridge at a local Fairfax County Public School and the 15th fridge to be added to the program providing supplemental food in western Fairfax County in another accessible way.
Your support of our client choice food pantries and financial assistance programs are key to keeping families safely housed with food in their refrigerators and cupboards on their journey to self-sufficiency.
God bless,
Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director
Photo above is from the December grocery distribution drive-thru on Saturday December 16th during which staff and volunteers served 550 families. Photos below are of Congressman Gerry Connolly and Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith as well as Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay at the grocery distributions in December and November respectively. Additional photos are from earlier this calendar year during the ribbon cutting at the Centreville Client Choice Food Pantry attended by Delegate Karrie Delaney and VA State Senator Elect Stella Pekarsky, and from Senator Warner's visit to WFCM. I am thankful for the support of our local and state government as well as Congressman Connolly and Senator Warner who have taken the time to learn more about the work of WFCM during 2023.
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December 2023 Service Update
We were able to serve 21% more families in need at our client choice food pantries in December 2023 versus December 2022. One hundred and fifty (150) families were served at our Centreville Client Choice Food Pantry. Thirty-four (34) families used our client-choice food pantries for the first time. Thank you for your partnership that makes this possible!
In Fiscal Year 2024, you will notice that the number of bags of food per family is lower, or not as high as anticipated based on the families served and food provided. That is because we are using larger reusable bags or boxes that hold more food. Each bag holds an average of 21 lbs. of food versus 16 lbs. in the past. Therefore, the total pounds of food distributed is higher while the number of bags is lower.
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Calendar-Year 2023 Service Update | |
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What's New in the Food Pantry and Client Services with Pamela Montesinos
Director of Client Operations & Programs
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We are thankful to the partners whose staff members/congregation members spent time volunteering in our warehouse during the month of December including: Northwest Federal Credit Union, English Empowerment Center, Centreville Baptist Church, and Family Hearing Services. We are also thankful to Feeding America staff members who toured our Chantilly Client-Choice Food Pantry and interviewed a client who wanted to share her story about the importance of accessing food for her family each month at WFCM (we receive food donations from local grocery stores as a direct partner of Capital Area Food Bank and the Feeding American network of food banks and food pantries).
During the December holiday/school's out food distribution, we were able to provide groceries for more than 600 families, including 140 school-referred families. Our generous partners provided boxes with items including oil, sugar, flour, canned fruit, vegetables, brownie mix, and items to make meals during the winter break including pasta and pasta sauce. In addition, we provided butter, rolls, milk, eggs, turkey/chicken/ham, fresh vegetables and fruit, and pie. In addition, generous partners provided additional resources for 310 families with school-age children. This year, we were also able to provide deliveries of holiday/school's out food for several clients through Door Dash, at no cost to clients due to a partner who provided funds for these deliveries. Thank you to all the generous partners who supported the holiday/school's out food distribution!
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Most needed items in the food pantry this month:
- Applesauce (no sugar added preferred)
- Maseca Corn Flour
- Hot Cereal (Oatmeal, Grits)
- Black Beans (low salt preferred)
- Refried Beans
- Black Eyed Peas
- Collard Greens (low salt preferred)
- Spinach (low salt preferred)
- Pancake Mix
- Syrup
- Tea (hot)
- Coffee (ground, no k-cups)
- Bottled juice (family size, plastic bottles, 100% juice preferred)
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Toiletries: bar soap, body wash, toothpaste, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, toilet paper, and lotion (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.
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Community Connections
with Diane Beatley
Sr. Manager, Community Engagement
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Partner Spotlight:
Legendary Custom Signs and Graphics
and
Phire, Inc.
Thank you to Legendary Custom Designs and Phire, Inc for renewing their annual "Friend of WFCM" business sponsorships for 2024!
Legendary Custom Signs and Graphics delivers excellence in signage to every customer (including WFCM)!
Phire, Inc. offers cost-effective, top-tier solutions for the effective management of enterprise applications.
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Giant Community Bag Program
Visit the Giant at Greenbriar Shopping Center, 13043 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy, Fairfax VA, during the month of January and support WFCM when you purchase a Community Bag for your groceries.
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Calendar Year-End Fundraiser
Thank you to the 214 donors who responded generously to our year-end fundraiser to support our operations as we work to serve our neighbors experiencing food insecurity and financial instability. We are grateful to a family who donated $25,000 to match the first $25,000 donated as part of this effort.
With your generous support, we exceeded our goal of raising $125,000 with a total of $163,000 raised as of December 31! These funds are needed and critical to ensure that thousands of individuals will continue to receive the groceries and financial assistance they need in the new year. The need is great, and we have already served more than 3,600 unduplicated individuals this fiscal year (since July), and we are only able to meet these needs due to our generous and supportive donors. Because of you, WFCM will be able to help families with their essential needs of gas, electricity, water, and or rent and, most importantly, food.
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Register today for WFCM’s
2024 Spring into Action Golf Tournament
WFCM’s sixth annual “Spring into Action” Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, at Chantilly National Golf & Country Club. Each year, this event includes continental breakfast, lunch, contests, complimentary beverages and snacks on the course, and 18 holes of fun. Registration is NOW open.
Thank you to Keener Insurance Agency for returning as the Tournament Sponsor! For information about sponsorships or registering to golf, email [email protected].
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Save the Date for the 2024 Fall Fundraiser!
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend WFCM's 17th Annual Fall Fundraiser on Sunday evening, October 20, 2024, at Chantilly National Golf and Country Club.
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