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LHR is Proud to be a Healthy Pantry!
Loudoun Hunger Relief has earned the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB) Healthy Pantry Seal, one of the first pantries in the Commonwealth to do so. The Healthy Pantry Initiative is a program of the Virginia Federation of Food Banks.
Being a Healthy Pantry means that LHR has incorporated all four of the Healthy Pantry Practices laid out by the Virginia Federation of Food Banks in our day to day operations. We're proud to have earned the seal, but we're prouder to be working to serve our neighbors even better every day.
We offer a wide variety of foods, including special dietary items and culturally appropriate items.
We host collaborative partner agencies on site every week to provide referrals and better access to other services for those who come in for food.
We feature SWAP (Supporting Wellness at Pantries) nutrition information throughout the pantry so that people have the data they need to make their choices.
We have almost no barriers to service. Our only requirement is that people live in Loudoun County.
We are proud to display the BRAFB Healthy Pantry Partner Seal.
To learn more about the healthy food movement in the charitable food network, read about food bank level efforts here.
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Photos courtesy of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties. | |
Needs Facing Local Families
LHR CEO Jennifer Montgomery served on a panel of Loudoun human services leaders last week at the Philanthropy Summit presented by the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.
She was among those voicing concern about the increased need among our Loudoun neighbors. Key takeaways included concern about housing affordability and worries about incomes keeping up with household expenses.
Other panelists included Loudoun County Assistant Director of Public Assistance and Supports, Ryan Harrison and Loudoun Cares Executive Director Valerie Pisierra. The panel was moderated by Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties President & CEO Nicole Acosta.
Other topics at the summit included a presentation from the United Way on the latest ALICE numbers (see detailed article below on this topic), and a presentation on the City of Alexandria's Guaranteed Income program.
See this LoudounNow article for full coverage of the Summit.
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New Data Shows Increase In Needs | |
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New data released by Feeding America reveals the sharpest increase in food insecurity since the Great Recession. In Loudoun, the food insecurity rate climbed from 4.1% to 6.9% in 2022 - the latest year of available data for the "Map the Meal Gap" study, which provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county in the nation.
The one-year spike resulted in an additional 12,320 people potentially experiencing food insecurity in Loudoun County (an increase from 16,800 to 29,220). According to Feeding America, the increase is attributed to two main factors: the sudden rise in food inflation from 2021 to 2022, paired with the expiration of several COVID-era federal assistance programs (e.g. Child Tax Credits, Free School Meals, increased SNAP).
For more recent data, Loudoun Hunger Relief analyzed monthly visit data and for January through March of 2024, pantry visits increased 44% compared to the same time period in 2023.
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Each year, the United Way releases a nationwide survey of the financial status of families. ALICE stands for Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed.
ALICE is a measure of what percent of each counties' population is at or below the poverty line, and at or below subsistence. The data has a two year lag, so this report uses data from 2022.
The Loudoun numbers for ALICE households have increased from 20% of all Loudoun households in 2022, or about 28,000 households to 24% of all Loudoun households in 2024, or about 34,000 households. Roughly 4,800 of these households live at or below the federal poverty line.
This increase is reflected in the families who we are seeing at LHR. About 120 families every month come to us for the first time. More and more, Alice does live in Loudoun.
See the data
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GREAT NEWS! COLLABORATIONS! And more... | |
Thank you, INOVA!
Last week, LHR was honored to be one of 23 grantees for the INOVA Foundation Health Equity Grant program.
LHR's Health Equity Grant will provide $35,000 to help fund a second pantry location in Sterling, focusing on expanding service to the Sterling area. Healthy food supports in low-income households are proven to improve long-term health and socio-economic outcomes.
Congratulations to all the grant recipients and thank you to Loudoun County Board of Supervisor's Chair Phyllis Randall for attending the awards event in Fairfax with with the Loudoun grantees.
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LHR joined our fellow nonprofits by joining the Unite Us platform. The Unite Us closed-loop referral platform is the foundation for the network, streamlining the referral process for people in need of assistance and delivering outcomes to ensure services were received.
At LHR, we work to connect people to additional resources in the County and beyond, so it made sense to participate in this pilot program. We're grateful for the grant and the training for our staff. To date, we've received several referrals from area hospitals and other nonprofits. One more way to work together and get our community connected.
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LHR Produce Hub
Did you know that LHR coordinates a "Produce Hub" in the summer months? With our expanded storage and transportation capacity, we pick up, store and redistribute local, fresh produce in partnership with other local organizations and programs. Currently, there are 13 partners coming to get produce each week. Thousands of pounds of local, nutritious food go out into the community. We're grateful for our donations from JK Community Farm, PEC's Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows, local Farmer's Markets and other local farms.
We also accept donations from individuals and encourage donations of eggs too!
PS - JK Community Farm and PEC's Community Farm are always looking for volunteers!
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Upcoming Pantry Closings
Our offices and pantry will be closed:
Saturday, June 15
Wednesday, June 19 in honor of Juneteenth
Saturday, June 29 (Closed for Inventory)
Please do not leave donations outside while we are closed.
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The subsistence income statistics in this graphic are from the United Way's most recent ALICE report. Food insecurity statistics are from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report. |
#Neighbors@LHR:
Over the last few months, we have noticed a sobering trend. Adults in their 70s, 80s, and 90s are seeking food assistance for the first time. Loudoun Hunger Relief is often their first stop.
Each new senior we see is more than a number. They have worked, contributed to our community, served in our armed forces. They are parents, grandparents, even great-grandparents. They don’t want to burden their families. Their income is fixed and isn’t keeping up with inflation.
Each senior is given additional resources to connect with the Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging, Department of Family Services, and referrals to other nonprofits that can help them get more support.
We’re here to help with food and to connect people with more help whenever they need it
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Drop your donation off and pick up a self-serve receipt. No appointment is needed to donate food.
Check the website and our social media pages for the current list of most needed items.
Want to make a gift "in honor of" or "in memorial of" someone? Put your honorees name in the dedication box and check box that asks to send an acknowledgment. Please visit our website to make your donation.
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