Stuff The Bus Food Drives Planned At 20 Fairfax County Sites

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — After the summer and the winter holidays, local food pantries may see donations drop off. In response, Fairfax County holds Stuff the Bus events several times a year to help restock food pantries during these critical times.

The next Stuff the Bus event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 11, a National Day of Service. Buses will be on site for donation drop-offs at 20 locations across Fairfax County.

In March 2020, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a significant increase of requests for food assistance. That impact continues as Fairfax County's food insecurity rate has increased. According to Feeding America, Fairfax County has a projected food insecurity rate of 7.4 percent in 2021, compared to a rate of 5.8 percent in 2019. Impacts in the greater DC region are highlighted in the Capital Area Food Bank's 2021 Hunger Report.

Stuff the Bus dates back to 2011 to address the critical need of restocking food pantries after holidays. Over 10 years, Stuff the Bus has collected over 220 tons of food to feed people in need. The program is a partnership between Fairfax County and local nonprofits.

Residents can donate goods to the participating locations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11. Those who cannot donate in person may make a monetary donation on Volunteer Fairfax's Stuff the Bus Donation Page. Monetary donations can help nonprofits purchase more food in bulk or with special discounts from retailers, as well as provide culturally appropriate foods and fresh foods, and keep food pantries stocked when donations drop.

Those who donate goods are asked to consider the most requested items:

• Cooking oil
• Corn Flour Maseca
• Bag (dry) beans, peas or lentils (16 oz.)
• Rice - brown or white (5 lbs. or smaller)
• Canned fruit in light syrup or juice (20 oz. or smaller)
• Healthy hot and cold cereal (42 oz. or smaller)
• Healthy snacks (such as raisins, granola bars)
• Canned tuna, salmon or chicken (15 oz. or smaller)
• Canned tomatoes - low sodium, no salt added (29 oz. or smaller)
• Soup - lower sodium (19 oz. or smaller)
• Canned pasta (16 oz. or smaller)
• Macaroni and cheese
• Peanut butter (40 oz. or smaller)
• Fruit jam (32 oz. or smaller)
• Instant potatoes (16 oz. or smaller)
• Pancake mix (32 oz. or smaller) and syrup
• Canned vegetables - low sodium, no salt added (29 oz. or smaller)
• Canned beans or peas (29 oz. or smaller)

Below are the sites that will take Stuff the Bus donations on Saturday, Sept. 11 and the benefiting nonprofits. The next Stuff the Bus event will be held Saturday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Braddock District Supervisor's Office, 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015, benefits ECHO
• Oaks Community Center, 5708 Oak Leather Drive, Burke, VA 22015, benefits ECHO
• McLean Government Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101, benefits LINK
• Great Falls Grange, 9818 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066, benefits LINK
• Providence Elementary School, 3616 Jermantown Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, benefits Food for Others
• Van Dyck Park, 3720 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030, benefits Food for Others
• Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035, benefits Food for Others
• Hunter Mill District Supervisor's Office, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston, VA 20190, benefits CHO
• Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, VA 22180, benefits CHO
• Island Creek Elementary School, 7855 Morning View Lane, Alexandria, VA 22315, benefits United Community
• Gerry Hyland Government Center (formerly South County Government Center), 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309, benefits United Community
• Laurel Hill Elementary School, 8390 Laurel Crest Drive Lorton, VA 22079, benefits LCAC
• George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003, benefits ACCA
• Belvedere Elementary School, 6540 Columbia Pike Falls Church, VA 22041, benefits ACCA
• Providence Community Center3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031, benefits Food for Others and Falls Church Community Service Council
• James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, benefits Food for Others and Falls Church Community Service Council
• West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152, benefits Koinonia
• Pohick Regional Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke, VA 22015, benefits Koinonia
• Sully Government Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA 20151, benefits Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
• Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Drive, Centreville, VA 20121, benefits Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, about 42 million Americans may not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. 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.