Community Partners Rally to End Teen Food Insecurity

The power of local businesses and community volunteers working together to make an impact was on full display this weekend when Amazon sponsored the Food For Neighbors event to mobilize the community to help fill the food pantries in local schools. Through the Food For Neighbors Red Bag Program and generous food drives from eleven area businesses and other groups, the community collected and sorted over 28,800 pounds of donations bound for 47 local schools. 31 of these schools are in Fairfax County, where more than 1,560 households donated food and toiletries and over 600 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to collect, sort, and deliver them. Of these, over 180 supported work taking place at Luther Jackson Middle School for several schools in the nonprofit’s Falls Church operational area.

“We’re proud to celebrate Amazon as a dedicated Community Champion and sponsor of our November Red Bag Event. Amazon’s continued partnership and generous donations have played a pivotal role in expanding our services into new communities,” said Karen Joseph, Founder and Executive Director of Food For Neighbors. “Their support has made a real difference for thousands of students facing food insecurity and has allowed us to provide much-needed, ongoing assistance. We’re incredibly grateful for their commitment to making a positive impact.”

Amazon volunteers helped to receive and sort food and toiletries at two Loudoun County and two Fairfax County locations, including Luther Jackson. Melissa Robinson of Amazon Community Impact shared, "At Amazon, we want to be good neighbors. Food security is an issue that employees are passionate about supporting. We are proud to support the Food For Neighbors fall food event for the second year in a row. Food For Neighbors is meeting an immediate need, and Amazon is happy to partner on this great program."

Despite Northern Virginia being among the most affluent areas in the state, over 1 in 3 students in Fairfax County were eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2023-2024 school year. Food For Neighbors works to ensure that supplemental food is readily accessible to students during the school day and to take home over weekends and holidays.

To address this need, several other community businesses/organizations joined Amazon and local volunteers in service at Luther Jackson Middle School. These included Salesforce, the National Charity League, and the Hunter Mill Chapter of the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL), all of which regularly help Food For Neighbors tackle teen food insecurity. Salesforce also delivered a generous food drive.

“I want our amazing volunteers and business partners to know that their contributions are making a profound impact. Thanks to their dedication and generosity, we’ve been able to reach far more students than we ever imagined when we started in 2016,” said Food For Neighbors Founder Karen Joseph. “Our partnerships with local businesses and organizations have been key in expanding our reach. School staff continue to share how the consistent food support is helping students attend school more regularly, stay focused in class, and improve their academic performance. Together, we are changing lives and giving these students opportunities to thrive.”

To learn more about Food For Neighbors and join more than 3,200 Red Bag donors and over 3,800 volunteers, visit https://www.foodforneighbors.org/get-involved/.