Partnering with LCPS for a Stronger Community |
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As we settle into the Fall season, our school partnerships are back in full swing and we wanted to share a little about how we partner on impactful programs. Did you know that the Pantry works with local schools to collect unused, unopened food that would otherwise be thrown away in their cafeterias? School kids actively participate in preventing waste and “rescuing” food to help their neighbors in need. And, we quickly distribute those foods like yogurt, carrots, bagels, fruit cups, milk, juice and other fresh produce to our guests. A “win-win” for all! During the 2025-2026 school year, we recovered 18,372 pounds of food from 14 participating schools! Email info@dsfp.org to find out how to start/support a food recovery program at your school. |
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| During the 2025-2026 school year, we recovered 18,372 pounds of food from 14 participating schools! Email info@dsfp.org to find out how to start/support a food recovery program at your school. |
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We also work with family liaisons at local schools to identify food-insecure children, and, through our Backpack Buddies program, provide weekend food to over 260 students in need. Bags include fruit cups, mac and cheese, breakfast items, canned entrees, shelf-stable milk and more–foods that are nutritious and easy for kids to prepare. Check out the following video to get a behind-the-scenes look at our Backpack Buddies program! |
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To show our gratitude to the amazing Family Liaisons who do so much for our students, we recently hosted a “Back to School” breakfast at the Pantry. Many thanks to them and to all the volunteers who support our school partnerships! |
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CURRENT EVENTS AND LATEST UPDATES |
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| A huge thank you goes to all of our donors, drivers, and volunteers for supporting our October ASG event. We are grateful for the 362 donor households who donated 7,396 lbs of pantry staples! For information about signing up for this convenient, door-to-door donation program, see our website here. Pickups will resume in February 2027. |
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| Shining a Light on Community Support! A huge thank you to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for awarding us a Partner Impact and Innovation Grant! With the seasons changing, this grant couldn’t have arrived at a better time. We’ve installed new outdoor lighting to ensure our guests, volunteers, and staff stay safe walking to and from the parking lot after dark. The funding also allowed us to purchase a new industrial floor scale, vital for weighing everything coming in and going out of our doors, as well as a modern translator device to help us communicate clearly with all our guests, ensuring everyone feels heard and supported. We are so grateful for BRAFB’s partnership! |
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| Keep an eye out for Scouts collecting food in your neighborhood! Scouting for Food is the largest annual community service project of the National Capital Area Council of Scouting of America. If you receive a post-it flyer on your door, please consider filling a bag of donations, and the scouts will pick it up on November 14th! |
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| Get ready for GivingTuesday! Mark your calendar to join people and organizations from around the world in holiday giving. Plan to donate to the Pantry on December 1st and be sure to spread the word on social media with the hashtag #GivingTuesday! |
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- Canned fruit
- Jelly
- Dry kidney beans
- Canned corn
- Pancake mix
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Shop to Make a Difference! |
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Your support and generosity are truly appreciated! |
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“Thank you for the food assistance provided two weeks ago. The items I received were greatly appreciated and have been a significant help. Please extend my gratitude to the entire team for your continued support.” ~ recent Pantry guest |
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However you give, whether it is time, money, or food, you make a difference in the lives of our guests. Thank you for your contributions last month! |
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| | 1,304 Volunteer Hours Served |
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908 Backpack Buddies Bags Delivered |
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September Food Drive Report |
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7,972 lbs of food collected A big thank you goes to the following groups for their food drive efforts! |
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Arcola United Methodist Church Avonlea Community Buffalo Trail Elementary School PTA Community Baptist Church Corpus Christi Catholic Church Gathering Table Immanuel Mar Thoma Church (IMTC) King of Kings Lutheran Church – Dulles South Vine and Branches Lutheran Church Westbury Glen Woven Solutions Young Men’s Service League – Loudoun South |
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| Help us stock up on this healthy staple for our guest families. Healthy cooking oils are essential for everyday cooking, but for many of our guests, olive oil is a luxury they can’t afford. We want to ensure each family who visits the Pantry gets a bottle of olive oil (16-32 oz preferred) in time for Thanksgiving! Please drop off during our regular donation hours or at any of our community donation locations. |
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From individuals, families, and kids, to service groups, faith supporters, and local businesses, our generous community exemplifies our mission: #NeighborsFeedingNeighbors. |
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Olivia, a Junior at Riverside High School, and her nonprofit, Gathering Table, conducted a food drive and collected 379 pounds of food. This drive focused on allergy-friendly, gluten-free, and sugar-free foods due to her personal experience with allergies. We are so grateful that Olivia took the time to organize such an impactful food drive! |
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We enjoyed having this crew from Athena Health join us during a Receive & Stock shift as part of their “September is for Service” event! We appreciate the help! |
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Woven Solutions donated over 1,345 pounds of food through custom Amazon Wish lists and collection bins at their company’s Happy Hour last week. We love that this has become an annual tradition. Thank you, Woven Solutions! If your organization would like a custom Amazon donation list, please email us at info@dsfp.org. |
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Food Distributions at the Pantry Tuesdays & Wednesdays By Appointment Only Phone: 703-507-2795 ext. 1 Email: appointments@dsfp.org Food Donations at the Pantry Monday, Wednesday & Saturday 10:00am – 11:30am No Appointment Needed Community Donation Locations Brambleton Association Broadlands Association Dulles South Recreation & Community Center South Riding Giant South Riding Town Hall Stone Ridge Association |
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| Nov 14th – Scouting for Food donation pickup Nov 17th-18th – Thanksgiving distributions Nov 22nd-29th – Pantry closed Dec 2nd – Giving Tuesday Dec 3 – New Volunteer Orientation Dec 5th – Board of Directors Meeting (Email us at info@dsfp.org to submit public comments) Dec 15th-16th – Holiday distributions Dec 21st-Jan 3rd – Pantry closed |
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