Low Food Pantry Supply Leads To PWC Hunger Free Campaign

MANASSAS, VA — As food pantries face low supply levels this summer, local officials will gather in Manassas Sunday to launch a food drive.

The first PWC Hunger Free Campaign will be launched with a kickoff rally and food drive Sunday, July 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center Street, Manassas. The campaign is being organized by Red, Wine, and Blue, the Latino Advocacy Network, and Indivisible Nova West , and elected officials around Prince William County and Manassas will attend.

According to the Capital Area Food Bank's Hunger Report 2024, 43 percent of households in Prince William County face food insecurity. An estimated 40 percent of food insecure households have children. Campaign organizers say food levels are low at food banks and food pantries, and they face increased demand as food insecurity grows.

Officials speaking at the event will include Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, state Sen. Danica Roem, Dels. Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Briana Sewell and Josh Thomas, Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Deshundra Jefferson and Prince William County School Board member Tracy Blake.

The launch of the PWC Hunger Free Campaign will feature a food drive to stock the food pantry shelves.

Food donation needs include:

• Cereal and oatmeal
• Pancake mix and syrup
• Soup (all varieties)
• Rice (box/bag less than 5 pound bags)
• Boxed potatoes – all varieties
• Crackers
• Canned fruit
• Spaghetti sauce
• Canned tomatoes/sauce
• Pasta
• Macaroni and cheese
• Beans (can or bag)
• Peanut butter
• Jam or jelly
• Canned meat (chicken, beef, spam)
• Canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines)
• Baking items (flour, sugar, salt)
• Baby food and formula

The event will also include children's activities, face painting, balloon animals, music and a dunk tank with surprise guests to support the cause.

Residents can also make monetary donations online to the PWC Hunger Free Campaign.

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.