During the month of July, Volunteer Alexandria (VolALX) hosted its second annual city-wide food drive. With 34 different collection locations throughout the city, Food4ALX collected more than 36,500 pounds over the course of the month. 

“We are pleased with the outcome of this drive. It not only collected the necessary food, but also raised a lot of awareness in the community,” said Marion Brunken, Executive Director, Volunteer Alexandria. “Dozens of volunteers were engaged in this effort, as well as numerous businesses.”

All items collected were donated to ALIVE!’s food program to directly benefit members of the Alexandria community in need of food assistance.

Many local organizations hosted a food drive collection box and encouraged patrons to donate items. This sponsorship was instrumental in getting promotional materials off the ground and funding collection boxes. 

“United Bank is committed to serving the community by partnering with local charities. We are proud to partner and sponsor Volunteer Alexandria and Alive Inc food drive this year,” said Paige Fawehinmi, Branch Manager.

The food collected through this food drive will support more than 2,000 families and ensure that ALIVE! has the resources to continue being a safety net for neighbors in need. 

Elizabeth Murphy, a volunteer, said, “Being involved has been a great opportunity for me to help local families that are struggling with food insecurity during the summer months.” Volunteer Alexandria made it easy, Murphy added.

Without the support businesses like Passport Auto Group, The Hoffman Town Center, Lisa Groover Real Estate-McEnearney Associates, Harris Teeter, Fitness Together, Wegmans, the Kiwanis Club of Alexandria, and the Zebra Press, the food drive would not have been nearly as successful as it was.

Other partner organizations and their patrons included: Alexandria & Company, ALX Community, Alexandria Women for Good, Barrett Library, Beatley Library, Burke Library, Cameron Station Condominiums, City of Alexandria, City Hall, Duncan Library, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Fairlington United Methodist Church, Fitness Together Alexandria, Lisa Groover Real Estate, Neighborhood Pharmacy, Old Presbyterian Meeting House, Old Town North Farmers Market, Old Town Village Roundhouse Community Center, Russell Temple CME Church, The Episcopal Church of Saint Clement, The Goodhart Group, Top It Off, United Bank.

ALIVE! is the largest private safety net in the City of Alexandria, founded in 1969. An interfaith organization, ALIVE! has grown to 50 member congregations and serves thousands of individuals every month, providing food, transitional shelter, financial help, eviction prevention, and furniture & housewares. alive-inc.org.

Source: Volunteer Alexandria