Fairfax Co. Libraries Hold 'Read and Feed' Drive To Collect Food For Families

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Public Library is holding its “Read and Feed” food drive in April, with customers asked to drop off food items at any library branch in the county.

Food donations received at the library branches will go to Food for Others, a nonprofit food bank, for distribution across Fairfax County.

During the food drive, community members can drop off unexpired, commercially produced food items, new and clean reusable grocery bags and simple kitchen tools, like can openers, to any FCPL branch during regular hours. Donors will receive reusable food tote bags.

Food for Others said it is unable to accept donations of items that are more than three years expired, opened items, food that is not labeled, homemade items, or cooked food.

After adopting a fine-free model for library items returned late, FCPL shifted to the “Read and Feed” drive in 2022, replacing the popular “Food for Fines” drive.

In the summer of 2022, food donations were down 30 percent from the previous summer, according to Anna Slaten, Food for Others’ director of development and outreach.

Slaten noted people who normally donate food are feeling the effects of inflation. This decrease in donations is coming at a time when demand for food from families is increasing.

Also, with certain COVID-19 era Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits ending, organizations like Food for Others are trying to be as prepared as possible. “With the uptick we’re expecting in clients, we’re trying to stay prepared,” she said.

For the “Read and Feed” food drive at Fairfax County libraries, the items that are most needed include:

• Oil
• Cereal
• Canned tomato products (crushed, peeled, diced, etc.), 4 oz. - 1 lb.
• Canned meat (chicken, turkey, or seafood), 2 oz. - 15 oz.
• Rice, 16 oz. packages
• Spaghetti sauce, 14 oz. - 1 lb. (ideally in cans instead of glass)
• Canned fruit (packed in fruit juice instead of syrup) 11 oz. - 20 oz.
• Dried or canned beans (black, kidney, pinto, etc.)
• Pasta
• Fruit juice (100% juice) 32 oz. - 64 oz.
• Can openers

Food for Others serves about 3,000 families on average each week. But that number is increasing, according to Slaten.

In January, Food for Others opened its Choice Marketplace, which allows its clients to select their food items in a grocery store setting. When the marketplace opened on Jan. 23, 330 families came through.

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