ALEXANDRIA, VA – Volunteer Alexandria will be hosting the first ever City-Wide food drive from July 5 toJuly 28 with a goal of collecting 30,000 pounds of canned food items and addressing the increased need for food assistance in the City of Alexandria. All of the items collected will be donated to ALIVE!’s food program to directly benefit members of the community.
“We are very grateful for this partnership as food drives like these help to ensure that ALIVE! has enough resources to continue supporting our fellow Alexandrians in need. Since the beginning of the pandemic we’ve seen a tremendous increase in the number of Alexandrians seeking food assistance,” says ALIVE! Executive Director Jenn Ayers, “Currently 12,000 to 15,000 people each month receive basic groceries from ALIVE!’s programs.” While many continue to struggle to keep up with rising food prices and high cost of living, donations to local food banks historically decrease during the summer months.
Marion Brunken, Executive Director of Volunteer Alexandria, states “Hunger does not take a summer break and we thank everyone for donating cans and for volunteering to support this month-long food drive. Our goal is that this initiative becomes an annual event in the summer.” Volunteer Alexandria’s goal is to collect 30,000 pounds of food to benefit thousands of families in our community. There will be a total of 16 collection boxes throughout the city where items can be donated. Only listed items will be accepted.
In addition to donations and monetary support, Volunteer Alexandria is also looking for volunteers to make the drive a success. This food drive is sponsored in part by Ting Internet, Fitness Together, and the Alexandria Rotary Club. To learn more about the food drive and find opportunities to get involved, please visit volunteeralexandria.org/food
List of accepted items:
Canned meat & fish
Canned vegetables & fruits
Canned beans
Oil in plastic bottles
Financial contributions to purchase food
Where to drop off donations:
Barrett Library – 717 Queen St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Beatley Library – 5005 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22304
Burke Library – 4701 Seminary Rd, Alexandria, VA 22304
City of Alexandria/City Hall – 301 King St, Alexandria VA 22314
Department of Community and Human Services – 4850 Mark Center Dr, Alexandria, VA 22311
Department of Beer and Wine – 2724 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22301
Duncan Library – 2501 Commonwealth Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
Fairlington Presbyterian Church – 3846 King St, Alexandria, VA 22302
Fitness Together – 300 N Washington St, Suite 106, Alexandria, VA 22314
Old Town North Community Partners – 901 North Royal St, Alexandria VA 22314
Sixteenth Tabernacle Beth-El – 634 N. Patrick St, Alexandria, VA 22314
The Goodhart Group – 106 N Lee St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Venue Condominium – 925 N Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Volunteer Alexandria – 2202 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
YMCA Alexandria – 420 E Monroe Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
Zweet Sport – 727 N Henry St, Alexandria, VA 22314
About Volunteer Alexandria
Volunteer Alexandria (VolALX), a small nonprofit organization with a lean budget under $300K, mobilizes, inspires, and connects people to causes and organizations in need of skilled and unskilled people. Since its founding in 1980, VolALX has served as a link between volunteers and local area nonprofit organizations in need of support. To learn more, visit volunteeralexandria.org.
About ALIVE!
ALIVE! is the oldest and largest private safety net in the City of Alexandria dedicated to fighting poverty and hunger. ALIVE! was founded in 1969 as Alexandria Involved Ecumenically by 14 faith communities in response to rising levels of poverty in the City of Alexandria. An interfaith organization, ALIVE! has grown to 50 member congregations.
ALIVE! is also supported by the City of Alexandria, community and civic organizations, local businesses, and volunteers working together to provide basic needs support to Alexandrians. ALIVE! serves thousands of individuals every month, providing food, transitional shelter, financial help, eviction prevention, and furniture & housewares. To learn more, visit alive-inc.org. [SEE ALSO: Alexander Duncan III New ACHS Executive Principal]
