We were excited to hold our first Weekend Food for Kids food-packing event of the new school year recently.  The occasion was made all the more enjoyable because of the special guests who attended.  As always, we received significant help from our sustaining partner in this program, Dominion Energy Virginia, and its dedicated employees.  In addition, Chris Grady (Vice President, Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of this important program that provides bags of nonperishable food to students at 6 elementary schools to sustain them on weekends when school-provided meals are not available. The day was even more special because some of our long-time friends from Sandy Spring Bank were able to join us, and we welcomed a new partnership with Northwest Federal Credit Union.

Once the packing began, we were able to fill 1680 bags with food in a little over an hour and then deliver them to happy students in Fairfax and Prince William counties.  These events are all the more enjoyable because of the background music that allows us to pack to the tune of oldies and show tunes.

In addition to the food bags, we provided grocery gift cards to a seventh school.  And, because of a donation from Northern

Virginia Food Rescue, we were also able to deliver more than 60 individual packages of nonperishable food items for families at one school, such as rice, beans, mac & cheese, and shelf-stable milk.  That school also received a donation of school supplies.

We helped spread lots of joy, with lots of help from our friends.