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Executive Director's Update
Our new fiscal year began on July 1st. With the heat of summer, 10-month employees without steady summer income (such as instructional aides at local schools), kids at home (without school meals), and other family-specific challenges, the needs in our community remain high. In July, we served nearly 700 unduplicated families in our markets - 1,022 adults, 1,119 children, and 209 seniors.
This level of service is only possible with the partnership of the community! I am thankful for the Chantilly Wegmans team members and customers who raised $6,543 for WFCM during their Fill the Bus campaign in June. I am also thankful for the support of Keener Insurance Agency, returning as the Event Sponsor for our upcoming Fellowship Breakfast and Walk to End Hunger on October 18th. These partnerships ensure we can continue to connect families in western Fairfax with the groceries they need and want, as well as critical rent and utility assistance to remain safely housed.
We are gearing up for the 2025-2026 school year that begins on August 18th. Grants and donations from the Feed Fairfax 5k, Expectation Church, Clifton Presbyterian, Amazon Web Services, Albertsons Companies Foundation, and Fairfax County Government will provide nearly $80,000 of the $115,000 budget needed to provide weekend meals for 700 students at Fairfax County Public Schools this year. Thank you to these generous partners!
In addition, as we prepare for the start of the school year, I am grateful for the generosity of 17 congregation partners whose congregations are providing nearly 1,700 backpacks for students at 20 Fairfax County Public Schools in the Centreville, Chantilly, and Westfield school pyramids (and one in Herndon).
Thank you for your partnership as we continue to provide critical resources and connections for families in our community.
God bless,
Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director
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What's New in the Food Markets and Client Services with Pamela Montesinos, Deputy Director
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Our Fiscal Year 2025 ended on June 30th. We are happy to share these encouraging trends.
The percentage of households with employed adults served by WFCM has increased from 57% in FY 2022 to 69% in FY 2023 to 77% in FY 2024 to 79% in FY 2025!
Families served earning 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG) or more has risen from 7% in FY 2022 to 17% in FY 2025! These are great strides toward self-sufficiency.
We certified 356 new families (out of the 1,364 unduplicated families served in our Free Food Markets and or with rent/utility assistance) which represented a decrease from the 511 new families who came to WFCM for the first time in Fiscal Year 2024.
Twenty-nine (29) families achieved self-sufficiency, compared with 21 in Fiscal Year 2024!
In July, we provided client choice food selection for 696 unduplicated families; including those ordering groceries online for delivery and those selecting food in the Chantilly or Centreville Free Food Markets. Families generally come to get groceries every 30 days (with availability on specific days/times due to their work schedules), so some families came twice in July (such as July 1st and 29th). This is the reason the number of appointments provided is higher than the number of unduplicated families served.
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*Average weight of a bag is 21 lbs.
**Food value 1 lb. of food FY 2026 = $1.90
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Most needed items in the Free Food Markets this month:
- Canned Meat (chicken, salmon, sardines, Vienna sausages)
- Canned Vegetables (beets, potatoes, spinach, peas)
- Peanut Butter and or Jelly
- Boxed Pasta (macaroni, ziti, shells, etc.)
- Mashed Potatoes (pouch or box)
- Flavored Rice and Pasta (Rice A Roni, Knorr pasta sides)
- Canned Fruit (peaches, pears, pineapples)
- Canned Beans (kidney, black, garbanzo)
- Boxed Cereal
- Cake Mix or Brownie Mix
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Family Sized Snacks (crackers, pretzels, nuts, etc.)
- Shelf Stable Juice (apple, cranberry, grape, etc.) (no glass bottles)
- Hot Beverages (ground coffee, tea bags, etc.)
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Toiletries: body wash, lotion, deodorant, mouthwash, hair shampoo and conditioner, feminine hygiene products (pads), and baby wipes (NOTE: we are not currently in need of diapers due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate 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.
| | Thank you for providing 1,697 backpacks for local students! | | |
Thank you to these congregation partners, and their members, for providing 1,697 backpacks for Fairfax County Public School students for school year 2025-2026:
- Centreville United Methodist
- Chantilly Baptist
- Christ Central Presbyterian
- Christ Presbyterian
- Church of the Epiphany Anglican
- Clifton Presbyterian
- Expectation
- Fairfax Church of Christ
- King of Kings Lutheran
- Korean United Methodist
- Mount Olive Baptist
- Ox Hill Baptist Church
- Pender United Methodist
- Pleasant Valley United Methodist
- Saint Andrew Lutheran
- Saint Andrew the Apostle
- Saint John's Episcopal
Students at these schools will receive these backpacks prior to the start of school on August 18th, as requested by the school Social Workers and or Parent Liaisons to meet the needs of the students at each of the schools:
- Brookfield ES
- Bull Run ES
- Centre Ridge ES
- Centreville HS
- Chantilly HS
- Colin Powell ES
- Cub Run ES
- Deer Park ES
- Floris ES
- Franklin MS
- Greenbriar East ES
- Greenbriar West ES
- Lees Corner ES
- London Towne ES
- Mountain View HS
- Providence ES
- Rocky Run MS
- Stone MS
- Virginia Run ES
- Westfield HS
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Community Connections
with Diane Beatley
Sr. Manager, Community Engagement
| | Thank you to Charles Keener and the team at Keener Insurance Agency for serving as the Event Sponsor for WFCM's Fellowship Breakfast and 2nd Annual Walk to End Hunger that will take place on Saturday October 18th. The Keener family and Keener Insurance Agency have supported WFCM since our founding in 1987 and we are grateful for their ongoing support and participation in the community. | |
Fellowship Breakfast & 2nd Annual Walk to End Hunger
Saturday, October 18, 2025
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Join this family-friendly event for all ages
on Saturday, October 18th!
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Register today for this family-friendly event and join fellow supporters at the Fellowship Breakfast and/or
Second Annual Walk to End Hunger.
This year, instead of a Fellowship Dinner,
WFCM will offer a Fellowship Breakfast,
held at Centreville United Methodist Church (CUMC),
followed by the Second Annual Walk to End Hunger
on the morning of Saturday, October 18
during the Centreville Day Parade.
The Fellowship Breakfast will include a hearty meal (pancakes, eggs, breakfast meat and crispy potatoes) as well as kid-friendly activities.
The Walk is approximately one mile on paved streets.
We will raise awareness and funds
during this fun parade walk (not timed).
A shuttle service will be provided between CUMC
and the nearby start of Centreville Day Parade.
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Registered participants will also be invited to participate in a Virtual Silent Auction October 6 – 9.
Thank you to the Friends of Historic Centreville for partnering with WFCM and organizing Centreville Day.
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Thanks to our generous Fellowship Breakfast & Walk to End Hunger 2025 sponsors, all registration fees will support
WFCM’s Free Food Markets in Chantilly and Centreville.
| | Beverage Sponsor -- This could be you! | | Founding Congregation Breakfast Sponsors | | Wegmans Fill the Bus Campaign Update | | | | |
We thank our friends at Wegmans and their customers for donating $6,543 from the June Fill the Bus campaign to WFCM. These funds will support our two Free Food Markets in Chantilly and Centreville and the 700 families selecting groceries in these markets each month.
Thank you, Wegmans and Wegmans Chantilly customers, for this generous donation!
| | Thank you for your support! | | | | |
