Alexandria’s largest food bank is seeking more donations and volunteers as it experiences increasing demand amid the government shutdown.
Nonprofit ALIVE!, which provides food and financial assistance to about 20,000 people each month, says local needs are rising significantly as more residents find themselves out of work due to federal layoffs and the ongoing shutdown.
“The need is going up,” Executive Director Jennifer Ayers told ALXnow. “We’re starting to see more federal employees the last two weeks come through our lines. We’re not clear if it’s because of the furlough or because it’s the end of their benefits — and it’s probably a little bit of both.”
Confusion also looms over the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which was paused last month, affecting approximately 12,000 recipients in Alexandria. On Monday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) launched a statewide stopgap measure to replenish SNAP cards through the end of November.
The nonprofit is currently accepting donations at its food warehouse, located at 801 S. Payne Street in Old Town, and at its two “food hubs,” located in the West End (510 S. Van Dorn Street) and Del Ray (2601 Mount Vernon Avenue). Donors can also give via the ALIVE! online store.
“We’re trying to do our best right now, and any support we can get is greatly appreciated,” Ayers said. “It’s becoming a bigger and bigger problem. Lines are increasing and demand for food is increasing.”
ALIVE! currently needs the following items.
- Cereal bowl packs (single-serve boxes)
- Boxes of oatmeal packets
- Kid-friendly microwavable food cups (like soup or macaroni and cheese)
- Tuna and cracker snack packs
- Goldfish cracker snack packs
- Ramen
- Jelly
- Monetary donations, which allow food banks to purchase food at wholesale market rates.
Where to find food assistance in Alexandria
Food assistance is available at ALIVE!’s two city food hubs, where residents can register to receive enough food to sustain their families on a weekly basis, Ayers said.
West End Food Hub (510-F S. Van Dorn Street)
- Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (closed 2-2:30 p.m.)
- Open Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Del Ray Food Hub (2601 Mount Vernon Avenue)
- Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (closed 2-2:30 p.m.)
- Open Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
ALIVE! supplies a number of community food pantries in the city, which are listed below, in addition to collaborating with over a dozen community partners for food distribution.
West End Food Pantry (5150 Fillmore Avenue)
- Open Mondays from 5-6:30 p.m.
- Site accessible via DASH Line 31, Metrobus 28A
- [email protected]
Christ House Food Pantry (131 S. West Street)
- Open daily from 5:00-5:30 p.m.
Meade Memorial Episcopal (322 N. Alfred Street)
- Bag Lunch Program open Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and Saturday from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Oakland Baptist Church (3408 King Street)
- Open the first and third Fridays every month from 11 a.m. to noon
- Site accessible via DASH Line 31 & 36A/B
Ruby Tucker Family Center Food Pantry (322 Tancil Court)
- Open the second Friday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon
Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church Food Pantry (317 N. Payne Street)
- Open Fridays from 10-11:30 a.m.
- Call 1-800-268-0448 to register for food pickup
- Site accessible via DASH Line 30, 31 and the King Street Trolley
CCDA Alexandria Food Pantry (4725A Eisenhower Avenue)
- Open Wednesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Old Town Community Church (212 S. Washington Street)
- Breakfast ministry open Wednesday from 6-8 a.m.
Upcoming food distributions
ALIVE! is also giving out free food with its community partners at the following locations this month:
- UNCUT Youth at Jefferson-Houston School (1501 Cameron Street) on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon
- Fairlington United Methodist Church (3900 King Street) on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 5-6:30 p.m.
- Francis C. Hammond Middle School (4646 Seminary Road) on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 4-6 p.m.
Two community fresh markets are scheduled from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the following locations:
- Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (25 W. Reed Avenue)
- William Ramsay Recreation Center (5650 Sanger Avenue)
Emergency food delivery
The nonprofit delivers twice-weekly frozen meals for seniors, people with disabilities and single parents.
ALIVE!’s Home Delivery Program provides once-monthly grocery hauls to clients, which include three to five days of shelf-stable food, meat, milk, fresh bread, eggs and produce.
Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook.
