Community organizations bring healthy foods to needy residents

UCM’s Client-Choice Food Pantry (Erika Christ image)

Accessing affordable, healthy foods continues to be a challenge for residents of several neighborhoods in the Richmond Highway area.

Based on the most recent data (2015) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Access Research Atlas, five census-based geographic regions along the Route 1 Corridor between the Beltway and Lorton Road have a poverty rate from 9.3 to 21.4 percent, with at least one-third of their populations living greater than one-half mile from the largest nearby supermarket or grocery store. Between the Beltway and Huntington Avenue along the west side of Route 1, many households lack basic transportation to grocers, according to the latest atlas.

Several community-based non-profit organizations provide supplemental groceries, emergency food assistance and/or meals to individual and family clients. Select churches along the Corridor also have food pantries, and the Capital Area Food Bank has partnership programs providing healthy foods to school children, families and other residents monthly. Most of these organizations/programs accept donations and offer volunteer opportunities. Following are information and updates on their activities:

Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) Food Program
9518 Richmond Highway
lortonaction.org/assistance-programs
LCAC executive director Linda Patterson says the center’s food program — which serves zip codes in Lorton, Newington and Fort Belvoir — has seen an increase in the number of senior and disabled clients living on fixed incomes. Military families living on-base also regularly use the program. Between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017, the pantry distributed 221 tons of food to 530 households representing 1,923 unique individuals.
Pantry Hours: Mon. – 1 to 3 p.m.; Tues. – 5 to 7 p.m.; Weds. to Fri. – 9 to 11 a.m.

United Community Ministries’ (UCM) Cynthia Hull Food Pantry
7511 Fordson Road
www.ucmagency.org/stepping-stones-basic-needs.html
UCM’s food pantry — which serves clients in the Huntington and Mount Vernon areas — recently named Von Jones its new assistant food pantry manager and updated its daily distribution hours to include early mornings and evenings. UCM’s director of children, family and youth services, C.J. Ekeagwu, said they recently rearranged their client-choice food pantry, so multiple families can shop at once. Nearly 5,000 unique individuals received emergency food from the pantry in 2017.
Pantry Hours: Mon. – 9 to noon; Tues. – 3 to 7:30 p.m.; Weds. – 7 to noon; Thurs. – 3 to 7:30 p.m.; Fri. – 9 to noon; Last Sat. of month – 8 to 11 a.m.
Monthly Free Veggies Distribution: Open to the general public, this free distribution of seasonal produce is held in partnership with Capital Area Food Bank on the fourth Saturday of each month between 8–11 a.m.

Capital Area Food Bank Family Markets
www.capitalareafoodbank.org/family-market
The Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) Family Market program serves schools in which at least 50 percent of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals. Family Markets are monthly distributions of free, fresh produce and pantry items, often accompanied by nutrition education and other social services. The markets are open to families with children attending the school.

• Hybla Valley Elementary School Family Market
  3415 Lockheed Boulevard
  Dates: April 11 and May 9 at 4 p.m.
• Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School Family Market
  4015 Fielding Street
  Dates: April 4, May 2 and June 6 at 5 p.m.
• Riverside Elementary School Family Market
  8410 Old Mt. Vernon Road
  Dates: April 3, May 1 and June 5 at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Whitman Fresh Foods Market
  Walt Whitman Middle School
  2500 Parkers Lane
  Dates: April 25, May 16 and June 13 from 3-6 p.m.

USO Warrior & Family Center at Fort Belvoir Food Pantry
https://metro.uso.org/programs/request-emergency-food-assistance
5940 9th Street
Fort Belvoir
The USO of Metropolitan Washington has been providing emergency food assistance to service members and their families since 2000 and has a food pantry at the USO Center at Fort Belvoir. The pantry is available for monthly visits by any active-duty members and their dependents. There is no rank restriction.
Pantry Hours: Open during normal operating hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

USO Supermarket Sweeps
USO Warehouse
9455 Jackson Loop, Building 1415
Fort Belvoir
The USO offers Supermarket Sweeps once a month to provide active-duty service members and their dependents with fresh produce and other treats. They receive the items from the Capital Area Food Bank. On average, they serve about 1,200 to 1,400 family members a month. The giveaway supplements what families purchase from the commissary or grocery store.
Dates: 1st Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. until supplies run out.

Milk and Honey Food Pantry
risinghopeumc.org/outreach
Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church
8220 Russell Road
The pantry feeds over 300 individuals and families each week. Volunteers also deliver food to shut-ins.
Pantry Hours: Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Thursday from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. and 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
God’s Bounty Produce Handout: Every fourth Friday of the month from 1 to 4 p.m., the Capital Area Food Bank partners with Rising Hope on a free produce giveaway.

Groveton Baptist Church Food Pantry
grovetonbaptistchurch.org/food.html
6511 Richmond Highway, Door A
Groveton’s food pantry serves emergency, non-perishable food to about 250 individuals or family units each year. Individuals and families may receive food twice per month. There are no eligibility requirements.
Pantry Hours: Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fairfax Area Meals on Wheels Program
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/older-adults/fairfax-area-meals-on-wheels
The Fairfax Area Meals on Wheels Program provides meals to residents age 60 and over, and adults with disabilities who can’t shop for or prepare their or meals, or don’t have someone to prepare meals for them. The program focuses on residents with the greatest economic and social need, and older adults at risk for institutional placement. Meals on Wheels provides two nutritious meals, three days a week to residents of the Route 1 Corridor.
Meal Requests and Referrals: 703-324-5409