No one likes to be hungry, but that’s a stark reality for a surprising number of residents in Northern Virginia. The most recent annual Capital Area Foodbank report found that 27% of households in Fairfax County and 46% of households in Prince William County experienced food insecurity in 2024. These levels were an increase from the findings in 2022 and 2023, reflecting the impact of higher food costs on the ability of families to provide adequate food. Unfortunately, it’s the case that a higher percentage of households struggling to provide food include children.

Assistance League’s Weekend Food for Kids program works to help address hunger for students at several Title 1 elementary schools across Northern Virginia. The program’s monthly packings provide bags of nonperishable food to help students avoid hunger over the weekend when school meals are not available. You can help support this effort by contributing items from our June Food for Kids Wish list. Use this link: https://tiny.alnv.org/FoodForKids or scan the QR code on the flyer to access the list. Please select Assistance League of Northern Virginia as the mailing address to assure timely delivery. If you would prefer not to order through Amazon, you can pay by personal check for these items. Please send your check, made out to ALNV, to P.O. Box 209, Herndon, VA 20172 and include “Wish List/month” in the memo line. (E.g., if you order in June, please write Wish List/June).

It’s difficult for students who come to school hungry to concentrate and engage in class. Every gift can help students come to school with the energy they need to participate and learn.