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Executive Director's Update
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During the month of January, I was able to connect with many colleagues from food pantries across Northern Virginia with the idea that a new year can bring new opportunities for us to collaborate and serve equitably across the region. We also want to ensure that the new year can mean new opportunities for the families we serve as we work to connect families with services to meet their needs and that enable them to achieve financial stability and food security.
One upward mobility initiative that WFCM offers is the Pathways to Success program. This program offers families the opportunity to participate in group financial budgeting classes from September-June, while also working one-on-one with a WFCM staff member on their individual budget and goals and using financial assistance to reduce debt and increase savings. As we enter the midway point in this fiscal year's program, I am happy to share some of the successes these families are experiencing.
- All six families have participated in the monthly Financial Peace classes and developed their monthly budgets (the families include 23 total individuals; 9 are children under age 18)
- All families have 2 or more adults in the household that have maintained employment throughout the first half of the program
- Half of the families have achieved one of the program outcomes of establishing an emergency savings account with $1,000
One of the families had been working hard to put aside funds in an emergency savings account each month and had reached the goal of $1,000, but then experienced an emergency when their refrigerator stopped working. While this decreased the funds in emergency savings to $100, we consider this a success in that the family was able to replace the refrigerator using the funds they had saved instead of facing a crisis situation. Now they are working to re-build the savings account having already experienced the reason for having it! As Marie shared with us, “Having the emergency fund helped me buy a refrigerator. At another time, and without the Financial Peace classes, I would not have known how to save. I felt a great relief knowing that I had money to pay.” A photo of the new refrigerator stocked with healthy food is above.
Thank you to this year's Pathways to Success sponsors: TD Charitable Foundation, Sentara Health, Centreville United Methodist Church, and Grace Covenant Church, and book sponsor Northwest Federal Credit Union.
Your support of our programs is 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
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January 2024 Service Update
We were able to serve 48% more families in need at our client choice food pantries in January 2024 compared to January 2023. One hundred and ninety-five (195) families were served at our Centreville Client Choice Food Pantry. Sixty-four (64) families used our client-choice food pantries for the first time. On average each family we served in January received a value of $300 in groceries. Thank you for your partnership that is making it possible for us to connect with more families who need of our services.
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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What's New in the Food Pantry and Client Services with Pamela Montesinos
Director of Client Operations & Programs
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In order to be more accessible for families with varying needs, we have implemented SmartChoice, an online ordering platform as part of a pilot in partnership with Door Dash and Capital Area Food Bank. A small group of registered clients who do not have transportation and prefer delivery, can now choose the groceries they desire based on the online inventory, in Spanish or English, and these groceries will be bagged and delivered. A couple of screenshots are below to show what clients see as they are selecting food in English or Spanish with photos and nutrition information. Learn more about this partnership with SmartChoice by reading our recent blog post at https://www.wfcmva.org/news.
Our Free Food Fridge program continues to grow with the 12th Fairfax County Public School fridge installed at Greenbriar East Elementary this month. Photographed below is the school social worker in front of the new commercial refrigerator stocked with weekend meals for students.
With Spring Break less than two months away, we are preparing for a School's Out Spring Break Food distribution for families we serve as well as school referred families to help fill the gap while students are home from school for the week. Thank you to Fairfax County for the Food Access Program grant that is providing the funds for this food and the insulated reusable bags.
Would you like to help stock our shelves? As you see from the chart above, we provided groceries for more than 700 families in January, over 120,000 lbs. of food, so we need your help to re-stock our shelves with the most needed items listed below. In addition to dropping off food donations on weekday mornings and on February 10th 9-11am at Suite H (back door), this month you can participate in the Fairfax County Stuff the Bus food drive by bringing non-perishable food and toiletry donations for WFCM to Walmart Chantilly (4368 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20151) on Saturday February 17th 9am - 3 pm. Thank you!
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Most needed items in the food pantry this month:
- Peaches (no sugar added preferred)
- Fruit Cocktail (no sugar added preferred)
- Hot Cereal (Oatmeal, Grits)
- Maseca Corn Flour
- Refried Beans
- Black Eyed Peas
- Collard Greens (low salt preferred)
- Spinach (low salt preferred)
- Pasta Sauce
- Canned Tomatoes (stewed, crushed)
- Risotto
- Rice (brown preferred)
- Ramen Noodles
- Syrup
- Tea (hot)
- Coffee (ground, no k-cups)
- Bottled juice (family size, plastic bottles, 100% juice preferred)
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Toiletries: body lotion, 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: Carahsoft
We are grateful to Carahsoft for returning as an annual business sponsor this year. The trusted government IT solutions provider supports WFCM's efforts to provide food and financial assistance to individuals and families at risk of hunger and homelessness in western Fairfax County.
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Annual Giving Statements
Thank you to all who donated and financially supported WFCM during calendar year 2023.
Mid-January, calendar year giving statements and copies of WFCM’s fiscal year 2023 annual report were mailed to all donors. If you have questions about your giving statement, please contact [email protected].
The WFCM 2023 Annual Report is also available online at https://www.wfcmva.org/news
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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.
For information about sponsorships or registering to golf, email [email protected].
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Feed Fairfax 5k
Looking for a family-friendly way to support WFCM's and Food For Others' weekend meal programs for students at Fairfax County Public Schools? Registration is now open for the Feed Fairfax 5k that will take place on Saturday May 4th in the Greenbriar Shopping Center.
Learn more at https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Fairfax/FeedFairfax5K
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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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