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Executive Director's Update
March 2024
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During the month of February, we were once again able to connect nearly 700 unduplicated families with groceries at our Centreville and Chantilly Client Choice Food Pantries. The high cost of groceries and utility bills, as well as challenges with underemployment (not working as many hours as individuals would like to work and need to work in order to pay essential bills of rent and utilities, as well as other expenses) continues to impact many families in our community. We are thankful for partnerships that enable WFCM to continue to provide food and rent/utility assistance for families when our county grant funds run out each quarter. The county partnership is critical and generous, but the needs are exceeding the funding and WFCM used the direct assistance funds allocated for January through March before the end of February to keep families safely housed.
We are working on our budget and plans for next fiscal year, starting in July, to ensure we can continue to serve at this higher level of need providing rent and utility assistance and the greater amount of food to families using our food pantries and to a growing number of school partners. Starting in April, we will be providing weekend meals to Virginia Run Elementary (our 13th Fairfax County School Partner). These services prevent families from facing eviction or disconnection of gas, water, and electricity; and from food insecurity turning into hunger.
In February, our client Kim told her WFCM case worker "I get the best of my ingredients from you." Kim has been selecting food in the client choice food pantry for several years (photos below from her recent appointment). She is a senior on a fixed income who is able to manage her expenses of rent, food, and medicine through Medicaid, SNAP, and the support of WFCM which includes using the food pantry monthly. We are thankful for all of the partnerships that make it possible for WFCM to connect Kim, and more than 1,160 neighboring households so far this fiscal year, with the ingredients they want and need to prepare healthy meals.
This work takes many caring connections who volunteer, donate funds, donate food, and bridge the gap for our neighbors. Your support is key to keeping families safely housed with food in their refrigerators and cupboards on their journey to self-sufficiency. Thank you for choosing to partner with WFCM.
God bless,
Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director
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February 2024 Service Update
We were able to serve 52% more families in need at our client choice food pantries in February 2024 compared to February 2023. One hundred and ninety (190) families were served at our Centreville Client Choice Food Pantry. Seventy-six (76) families used our client-choice food pantries for the first time. Thank you for your partnership that is making it possible for us to connect with more families who need of our services.
In Fiscal Year 2024, you will notice that the number of bags of food per family is lower, or not as high as anticipated based on the families served and food provided. That is because we are using larger reusable bags or boxes that hold more food. Each bag holds an average of 21 lbs. of food versus 16 lbs. in the past. Therefore, the total pounds of food distributed is higher while the number of bags is lower.
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What's New in the Food Pantry and Client Services with Pamela Montesinos
Director of Client Operations & Programs
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March is Women's History Month and the Fairfax County Government Board of Supervisors has coordinated a Feminine Supplies Drive benefitting several non-profit partners including WFCM. Please consider donating feminine pads at the locations listed below. Thank you to Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith and the Board of Supervisors for this collection! | |
Would you like to help stock our shelves? Unfortunately, the Fairfax County Stuff the Bus food collection planned for February to benefit WFCM was canceled due to inclement weather. We provided groceries for more than 700 families in January and nearly that same number again in February, over 233,000 lbs. of food, so we need your help to re-stock our shelves with the most needed food and toiletry items listed below. You can also donate online to help us purchase fresh food items such as milk, yogurt, and meat if you are unable to bring donations during donation hours. Thank you! | |
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Most needed items in the food pantry this month:
- Peaches (no sugar added preferred)
- Fruit Cocktail (no sugar added preferred)
- Hot Cereal (Oatmeal, Grits)
- Maseca Corn Flour
- Refried Beans
- Black Eyed Peas
- Canned Pasta
- Pasta Sauce
- Risotto
- Canned Tomatoes (stewed, crushed)
- Rice (brown preferred)
- Pancake Syrup
- Canned Mixed Vegetables (low salt preferred)
- Individual Juice Boxes (100% fruit juice preferred)
- Coffee (ground, no k-cups)
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Toiletries: body lotion, body wash, toothpaste, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, toilet paper, and lotion (NOTE: we are not currently in need of diapers size 0-5 due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate larger size pull ups size 4T/5T for toddlers, size 6 diapers, or 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.
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Community Connections
with Diane Beatley
Sr. Manager, Community Engagement
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Partner Spotlight: Anthem HealthKeepers Plus
We extend our gratitude to Anthem HealthKeepers Plus for renewing their annual business sponsorship. As Virginia's largest Medicaid health plan, Anthem HealthKeepers Plus is diligently working with the state to ensure the eligibility review of all Medicaid members by the end of April. To assist our clients in navigating the renewal process, WFCM is distributing informational flyers provided by Anthem HealthKeepers Plus, aiming to prevent any loss of coverage due to incorrect contact details.
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Recognizing 37 years of Service on March 6th
with Gratitude to our Founders and Current Partners
In 1987, volunteers from local churches recognized they could do more together to provide for their neighbors in need in western Fairfax and twelve churches partnered to create Western Fairfax Christian Ministries. Thirty-seven years later, WFCM remains committed to supporting families at risk of hunger and homelessness as an expression of God’s love through our Client Choice Food Pantries and Emergency Financial Services. With the collaboration and support of local businesses, congregations, organizations, foundations, county government, and individual partners, WFCM has served 4,300 unique individuals (1,400 families) so far this fiscal year since July 1, 2023, by providing these neighbors with 900,000 pounds of food and $808,000 in financial assistance for utility and housing bills. In addition, your partnerships allow us to provide weekend meals for students at 13 Fairfax County Public Schools (nearly 800 students as of April 1).
Your generosity and partnership make this possible, ensuring our neighbors have safe housing and food in their refrigerators and cupboards. As we approach the end of this fiscal year, in June, and see the continued high needs with 50% more families using our food pantries than just last year, please consider a Spring Fiscal Year End Donation on WFCM’s 37th anniversary. Thanks to a generous local family, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $3,700 on March 6th, doubling the impact of your support.
Visit wfcmva.org/donate to make a secure online donation. Please consider a recurring monthly donation. How does this help? We are able to turn your monthly donation of $50 into $300 of groceries for a family of 5 when they use our Centreville Client Choice Food Pantry each month. To donate by mail, please send checks to Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 220802, Chantilly, VA 20153.
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Register today for WFCM’s
2024 Spring into Action Golf Tournament
WFCM’s sixth annual “Spring into Action” Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, at Chantilly National Golf & Country Club. Enjoy a day that includes continental breakfast, lunch, contests, complimentary beverages and snacks on the course, in addition to18 holes of fun. Register today!
For information about the few remaining sponsorships or assistance registering to golf, email donorsupport@wfcmva.org.
Thank you to our tournament sponsors!
Keener Insurance Agency, Inc., Tournament Sponsor
King of Kings Lutheran Church, Lunch Sponsor
Grace Covenant Church, Beverage Cart Sponsor
Air Masters Heating and Air Conditioning Company, Registration Sponsor
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Feed Fairfax 5k
Looking for a family-friendly way to support WFCM's and Food For Others' weekend meal programs for students at Fairfax County Public Schools? Registration is now open for the Feed Fairfax 5k that will take place on Saturday May 4th in the Greenbriar Shopping Center.
Learn more and register today at https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Fairfax/FeedFairfax5K
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Save the Date for the 2024 Fall Fundraiser!
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend WFCM's 17th Annual Fall Fundraiser on Sunday evening, October 20, 2024, at Chantilly National Golf and Country Club.
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