WFCM September 2023 Newsletter

September 2023

WFCM News For You

Executive Director's Update

September is Hunger Action Month. This is a time when food banks and food pantries across America work together to raise awareness about hunger.

For the past several years, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries has been working with other food pantries across Fairfax County collectively to end hunger and reduce food insecurity in our community. We have been fighting against a rising tide due to the impacts of the pandemic. While there is great wealth and generosity in Fairfax County, the Fairfax Food Council has stated there are currently 75,000 individuals in the county who are food insecure and just under 60,000 children qualifying for free and reduced meals in Fairfax County Public Schools. They estimate the number of community members who are food insecure has doubled since the pandemic.

We have seen the number of families using our client choice food pantries increasing as much as 25% on a monthly basis when comparing 2022 to 2023. This started in March with the end of the SNAP emergency allotments and has continued each month. In August we served 22% more client households than in August 2022. Our response to this growing need has been to open a second client choice food pantry in Centreville (which served 131 households in August), develop, strengthen and grow our Free Food Fridge program that is now available in 11 schools and 3 non-profit partner locations serving 600 students weekly, and offer School's Out food distributions in the winter, spring, and summer to supplement our programs. Food security is not just about addressing immediate hunger. It means that families have reliable ongoing access to a sufficient amount of nutritious food. This is the reason we are increasing our accessibility for families in need of our services.

Your partnership all year-long ensures clients know they can access our client choice food pantries each month to select 2-weeks worth of food that includes milk, eggs, meat, flour, tuna, beans, pasta, fruit, vegetables, and many more groceries they desire for their family. We also work with families to connect them with benefits such as SNAP so that their hard-earned income can be used for rent and utilities to remain safely housed. This is key to preventing homelessness, hunger and malnutrition while these families work on improving their self-sufficiency through opportunities for increased income and decreased expenses.

Please consider supporting our operations and learning more about our work by attending our Fall Fundraiser. Learn more in the Community Engagement section of this newsletter.

Thank you and God bless,

Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director

August 2023 Service Update

In FY 24, you will notice that the number of bags of food per family is lower. That is because we are using larger reusable bags or boxes that hold more food. So, 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.

What's New in the Food Pantry and Client Services with Pamela Montesinos

Director of Client Operations & Programs

School is back in session! Thank you to our community of faith partners and their members for providing all of the requested 1,390 backpacks for the Fairfax County Public School students attending elementary, middle, and high school in Centreville, Chantilly, and Westfield.

The start of school also signals the start of Pathways to Success, our ten-month program during which families participate in Financial Peace classes and one-on-one budget sessions to improve their financial situations and achieve housing stability with the goal of self-sufficiency. This fiscal year, seven families will participate and the curriculum will be presented in Spanish. We are thankful to TD Bank, Sentara Health, Centreville United Methodist Church, Grace Covenant Church, and St. John's Episcopal Church for providing the funding for financial assistance that will be used each month to pay non-revolving bills for the families so that they can build emergency savings accounts, and reduce debt.

September is Hunger Action Month. We will once again hold a Client Fair to provide special resources and information for our clients as we work to #endhungerhere. Please consider supporting our client choice food pantries and Free Food Fridge program this month as we work to improve food security for the clients we serve.

Most needed items in the food pantry this month:

Flour (1-5 lb. bag)
Canned Pineapple or Canned Mixed Fruit (no sugar preferred)
Refried Beans
Snacks (family size, crackers, pretzels, popcorn)
Boxed/Bagged Rice in Sauce (such as Rice a Roni or Knorr)
Stuffing
Pasta Sauce
Canned Pasta
Boxed Pasta (ziti, macaroni, bow-tie, penne)
Cake Mix and Brownie Mix

Toiletries: bar soap, body wash, laundry detergent, and lotion (NOTE: we are not currently in need of diapers size 0-4 due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate larger size pull ups size 4T/5T for toddlers, size 5 or 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: Northwest Federal Credit Union

Thank you to the team at Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU) for their ongoing support of WFCM. In addition to their annual "friend of WFCM" sponsorship and sponsorship of our golf tournament, this fiscal year, NWFCU is sponsoring the Pathways to Success program by providing funding for the Financial Peace books and materials. We are thankful for the NWFCU volunteers who help in our warehouse each month, as well as the dedicated volunteers who assist with the Pathways to Success program. Northwest Federal builds relationships to ensure lives and communities are transformed and we are thankful for their long-term partnership.

Purchase Your Tickets Today for WFCM’s Annual Fall FUNdraiser!

It’s all about Food, Fellowship, and Fun as we raise awareness and fund solutions! Join us at Chantilly National Golf & Country Club. This is the same great location as last year, but new this year, our entertainment will be bingo and WFCM trivia with terrific raffle prizes! The dinner will feature a Gourmet Garden Buffet along with appetizers and dessert. In addition, a virtual silent auction will open for attendees a few days prior to the event. Gather your friends and neighbors and purchase your tickets today!

Thank you to these fantastic sponsors:

Keener Insurance Agency Inc. - Presenting Event Sponsor

King of Kings Lutheran Church - Entertainment Sponsor

Fairfax Church of Christ - Appetizer Sponsor

Grace Covenant Church - Silent Virtual Auction Sponsor

Bloom Brand Strategies - Registration Sponsor

For more information or to inquire about other signature sponsorship opportunities, contact Diane at dbeatley@wfcmva.org

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