December 2020
AFAC Featured in National Media
Over the past couple of weeks, AFAC and Charles Meng, AFAC's Executive Director & CEO have been featured on PBS News Hour, ABC's This Week, and MSNBC's Meet the Press to share how food pantries like AFAC are serving an increased number of families who are facing food insecurity due to the pandemic. In case you missed any of these stories and interviews, visit this page to view all the clips.
Community Food Drives
There are lots of AFAC food drive boxes located in our community where you can drop off nonperishable food for families in need. This weekend, Arlington Parks and Recreation will have boxes outside 12 of their community centers. There is also a food drive box at Gulf Branch Nature Center, right by the mailbox for letters to Santa.
For a full list of donation box locations, visit our website.
MLK Food Drive Flyer Design Contest
Contest for Young Artists! AFAC is looking for students K-12 to help design food drive flyers for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 4 winners will have their designs available for download to help encourage neighbors and friends to donate non-perishable food for AFAC. For contest rules, visit our page on the website.
Coloring Pages on Flyers
Thanks to the help of Vanessa Powers, we've added adorable coloring pages to our website. They're great for when you are doing a neighborhood food drive - you can have suggestions and instructions on one side and a coloring page for the home on the other.
Hope Against Hunger Holiday Campaign
Help bring Hope Against Hunger by sponsoring a family this holiday season! Your donation of just $25 can provide a family with a holiday meal that includes a whole chicken, fresh produce, milk, eggs, and bread.
Events & Promotions Benefitting AFAC
Gifts that Give Hope
The 10th Annual Gifts That Give Hope: Arlington's Giving Fair event runs through December 18. This fair is an alternative gift fair where shoppers can honor their friends and family by donating to local nonprofits and supporting those in need. Visit the Gifts That Give Hope website for more information.
Hops Against Hunger
The Board Room Brewing Company teamed up with AFAC to create Hops Against Hunger - a limited batch that will be available through December 31. A portion of the proceeds will help AFAC provide much needed groceries to families in need this holiday season. Thank you to the Board Room Brewing Company team for dedicating their time and brewing for good!
Holiday Light Show for AFAC
The Gaffney family is putting on a socially-distanced, holiday music lightshow fundraiser for AFAC! Their house is at the corner of S. 22nd St and S. Ives. The show is approx. 25 minutes and occurs at 7pm between December 11-13 and December 17 - January 1. Click to see flyer for more details.
Wreath Sale
The Aurora Hills Women's Club currently is having a fundraising sale of wreaths, centerpieces, and other holiday accessories, with a portion of the sales benefiting the Arlington Historical Society and AFAC. Sale ends soon! Go to their sale page for more information.
Volunteer Department News
The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) is looking for 3-4 AFAC volunteers to be emergency back-up for their distributions on Tuesday and/or Thursday afternoons for the months of December and January. You would only be called if someone from their regular volunteer team calls out due to an emergency. For more information, and to sign up, please click here.
Heading Here
AFAC volunteer Bruce Horovitz wrote an article featured in the NY Times that talks about the health benefits of volunteering. Click here to read the article.
Thank You
Thank you to the various scout troops from the Chain Bridge District of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America for collecting 38,810 lbs of food donations in November! Despite the cancellation of the annual Scouting for Food event, many troops took it upon themselves to still go door-to-door and collect food donations on their own to make sure families would get much needed food for Thanksgiving.

We had a very successful Giving Tuesday campaign last week. Thank you to Dr. Chee-Hahn Hung for offering a match to help spur donations!

We also want to thank everyone who has continued to support AFAC, especially through this pandemic. Whether you are donating food, funds, or time; you are helping us feed our neighbors in need during this difficult time for many. Even though our lines are longer, we are humbled and thankful to be part of a kind and caring community. We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday season.
Arlington Food Assistance Center | 703.845.8486 | www.afac.org