Data Center Workers Help Pack 1,450 Meal Bags For Loudoun Food Insecure Students

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A food packing event to address food insecurity is providing thousands of meals to students facing food insecurity in Loudoun County.

This was the fifth year of a food packing collaboration between the Loudoun Education Foundation and the 7x24 Exchange's DC chapter, a nonprofit for professionals working with data centers and other information infrastructure. Loudoun Education Foundation funds a food security program called Fueled.

Last Tuesday, the volunteers packed 1,450 meals, which were then distributed to 30 Loudoun County Public Schools sites.

"One of the strengths of the Loudoun Education Foundation is our partnerships. Our partners make many things possible–from hosting snack and hygiene drives, to raising money and volunteering," said Kirslyn Schell-Smith, Fueled programs coordinator at the Loudoun Education Foundation. "We are grateful to our partners for bringing us creative ideas for collaborations and spreading the word about our programs. 7x24 Exchange has been an instrumental part of several aspects that make our programs successful."

Through 7x24 Exchange's membership, volunteers from more than a dozen companies helped out. In addition to providing volunteers, 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter members have collectively donated $115,000 to the Loudoun Education Foundation to address student food insecurity in Loudoun County.

"We look forward to this pack night every year, and it keeps getting better and better. It’s great to have so many companies represented here," Trisann Ferrigno, a board member of 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter, told volunteers. "Many people do not know that there are significant needs in Loudoun County, and one of the most important ways you can help is by sharing that information."

While Loudoun County is often named the richest in the U.S. for its median income, disparities among residents remain. Feeding America estimated a 6.9 percent food insecurity rate in Loudoun County in 2022. Fall 2024 enrollment at Loudoun County Public Schools showed 24.7 percent of the student population is economically disadvantaged, according to Virginia Department of Education school quality profile data.

The food packing partnership represents a community outreach effort by the data center industry, which has developed a large presence in Loudoun County. On one hand, data center revenue has provided significant tax revenue to the county, allowing for recommended tax rate decreases in the latest budget. On the other hand, residents have been concerned about the quick growth of data center locations, as well as environmental impacts, electricity demand, and impact from facilities close to residential neighborhoods.

RELATED: By-Right Approval For Data Centers Changed To Full Board Review In Loudoun County

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks and 60,000 local meals programs across the country, estimates that nearly 34 million people, including 9 million children — about 1 in 6 Americans — are living with food insecurity. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.