|
During the month of September, we raised awareness about hunger and food insecurity in western Fairfax County and focused on solutions as part of Hunger Action Month. While I participated in several meetings and read several reports focused on the big picture and system level challenges and solutions, I am thankful for the opportunities I have to work directly with families to understand the specific barriers they are facing and see the impact of the resources we provide.
Even more heartening is when clients tell us that they have been able to achieve financial stability and are food secure and no longer need our services. This month a gentleman came to our Chantilly Client Choice Food Pantry for his appointment to select food for his family of four. When my co-worker asked him when he wanted to schedule his next appointment, he shared that his wife was starting a new job and this would be the last time they needed our services. This family has been using the food pantry monthly since April 2020, when his wife lost her job due to the pandemic. With young kids and with only one income, they faced food insecurity for more than three years. With joy, he shared about her new stable employment and said, "God bless you for helping us through this difficult time."
A client selecting food at the Centreville Client Choice Food Pantry recently shared that she had just found a new job and would need to schedule an appointment early in the day for next month so she could get to work on time. She said, "hopefully I won't need this help soon and others can come to be helped."
Your partnership ensures families know they can access our client choice food pantries each month while their needs persist. Without the fear or reality of hunger, the families can focus on improving their financial situation to become self-sufficient.
Thank you and God bless,
Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director
(Photo above is from this year's WFCM Client Fair on Saturday September 23rd. I had the opportunity to bag fresh mangos, avocados, pineapple, and watermelon for the nearly 100 families that participated.)
| 
