Many people in Fairfax County are surprised to learn that there are hungry families right in their midst. Despite a high median income and low unemployment rate, many individuals and families here don’t earn enough to meet basic monthly expenses such as food, housing and transportation.  

That’s why this coming weekend’s food drive to restock Western Fairfax Christian Ministries’ (WFCM) food pantry is so important. It’s also why it’s critical that local residents fill with food the bags Boy Scouts left at their doors last weekend and put them outside this Saturday, Nov. 12, by 9 a.m., for pickup.

“Over 76,000 county residents are at risk of experiencing hunger,” said Jennie Bush, WFCM’s community outreach manager. “They are food-insecure — which means they don’t always know where their next meal is coming from.”  

Some 64,851 (1 in 17) people live in poverty here — defined as an annual income of $23,850 for a family of four. Another 172,053 (1 in 6) county residents have incomes under 200 percent of the poverty marker — a $47,700 annual income for a family of four. See www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/caab/pdf/state-of-the-poor.pdf.

Furthermore, the Fairfax County Public Schools Office of School Nutrition, reported that, in the 2015-2016 school year, 52,650 school-aged children received assistance with breakfast and lunch.

All year ’round, the WFCM food pantry provides food for local people in need such as these children and their families. That’s why such hopes are pinned on the upcoming Boy Scout Food Drive, “Scouting for Food.” And every food contribution is appreciated.

“We are grateful for our neighbors who will donate to restock our food pantry shelves,” said Bush. “It takes neighbors helping neighbors, making sure there are no hungry families in our community.”

The Scouts will be collecting nonperishable items, such as canned soup, meats, vegetables, fruit, cereal, rice, oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce (no glass jars), peanut butter and jelly, dried beans, canned tomatoes, etc.

Scouting for Food is the largest food drive of the year for WFCM’s food pantry, as the Scouts go through the neighborhoods and bring approximately 50,000 pounds of food to WFCM on that one day.

It’s a big undertaking and a great deal of territory to cover, so more than 150 youth and adult volunteers are needed to help, this Saturday, Nov. 12. Shifts are available beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. for setting up and tearing down, sorting, crating and transporting the food.   

“This volunteer event is ideal for individuals, small groups, families, service clubs and students needing community service hours,” said Bush. “WFCM is also looking for volunteers with trucks and strong backs to help transport 30- 50-pound crates from the sorting site to the food pantry and/or local storage areas.”

For more information and to sign up, contact Annette Bosley at abosley@wfcmva.org.