ALEXANDRIA, VA – Early yesterday morning (April 12) in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, ALIVE! opened its new Food Hub at 2601 Mt. Vernon Ave. This Food Hub, across from Mount Vernon Community School, is ALIVE!’s second – the other is located at 510-F S. Van Dorn St.
In attendance at the ceremony were city leaders, ALIVE! staff, and individuals who helped make the new Food Hub possible. The organization’s executive director, Jenn Ayers, opened the ceremony by thanking everyone for their support.
“All of your community support helps us,” she said. ” We’re really grateful for the collaboration and support.”
In remarks to the assembled crowd, Mayor Justin Wilson spoke about the significance of the Food Hub to Alexandria.
“We have a great crew in this neighborhood, and I know we’re really excited to see this coming to our community,” he said. “This is exciting for our city, and I think, first of all says something about who we are as a community. It’s about how we support folks in our community.”
Wilson also mentioned how the Food Hub can serve as a model for neighboring counties.
“It’s about serving hunger {and] other needs in the community,” he explained, “and doing so in a way that, I think, other folks are going to come look at and say ‘What do they do, and how do they do it?’ ”
Gerry Hebert, a past president of ALIVE!, was recognized by the crowd. He volunteered for the project. figuring out how the space could be used most effectively and doing all of the work to create it, according to Ayers.
The hubs are made possible through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The locations permit residents to acquire food they need when convenient, rather than waiting for food drives. Shopping is described, in a press release, as a “market-like experience.” Staff are available to help customers make healthy eating choices and provide other information.
For the days and hours of operations at both locations, visit alive-inc.org.
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