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Executive Director's Update
Happy New Year! I am so thankful for each of you who helped us to close out the calendar year strong with a big holiday food/school's out food distribution December 20 (continuing Dec 22-23) that served 547 families, keeping our refrigerators and shelves stocked as we continued to serve families through December 31st, and with your generous calendar year-end donations that exceeded our goal and ensure we can start this new year in a position to continue to meet the needs of community members during these cold winter months. Thank you!
Prior to the Fairfax County Public Schools Winter Break, on Saturday December 20th (and the following Monday and Tuesday) we distributed holiday and school's out groceries including chicken or turkey, milk, eggs, cheese, pie, vegetables, fruit, canned vegetables, instant potatoes, canned fruit, chicken broth, rice, sugar, oil, baking mix, cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, tuna, and mac & cheese (valued at $82 for a family of 1-3 and $132 for a family of 4+) to 547 families including 422 WFCM client families and 125 social worker referred families from the 24 Fairfax County Public Schools in the Centreville, Chantilly, and Westfield school pyramids. This holiday food is entirely funded by the community and included the donation of 1,045 boxes of nonperishable food from local congregations and organizations, as well as donations of more than $14,500 for the fresh food, and 500 pies providing more than $65,000 of food for community members.
As the year ended, we received encouraging notes from donors and community members. Below are a few of the heartfelt sentiments that I wanted to share with you:
"This donation is in honor of your compassionate workers and volunteers." SF
"Thanks for all the great work you do." DS
"My name is Eliza* and I am 7 years old. I really want to help people with the money I earned doing chores."
"To: All of your staff, volunteers, and contributors - Your generosity is fantastic. You have allowed me to find hope and light in a difficult time for me personally. I wish the best for everyone and all that you assist." CJ
In May 2025, CJ came to WFCM for assistance with his mortgage payment. He had lost his job and, as a senior citizen, was struggling to find new employment. Living alone in Herndon, he was worried about how he would pay his bills and buy food. WFCM was able to provide financial assistance, and since that time CJ has been using WFCM's Free Food Markets to select groceries while his job search continues.
Your partnership is critical and impactful as we work with community members, helping people to remain safely housed with food to prepare meals. Thank you!
God bless,
Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director
*Name changed.
Photographed above L to R - Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith, Kris A., District Aide to Congressman Walkinshaw, and me distributing eggs during the December food distribution
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