Woodbridge Church Holds Grand Reopening For Food Pantry

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Residents in need of food assistance can again find resources through a Woodbridge church.

Woodbridge Church of the Nazarene held a grand reopening of its food pantry Tuesday. The food pantry had paused operations in November 2023 for construction of its food pantry pavilion. The Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William provided funding to install a walk-in cooler and pavilion, and Sentara Cares donated to remodel the kitchen.

"Re-opening our pantry has been a journey built on patience, collaboration, and trusting God. This celebration is a blessing for us and the community we serve," said the Rev. Pamm Fontana, senior pastor at WoodbridgeNaz. "Isaiah 58:10 teaches us, ‘Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be bright as noon.’"

The food pantry is located in the back of the church building, at 14001 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge, VA. WoodbridgeNaz partners with Iglesia del Nazareno de Woodbridge to run the food pantry. Capital Area Food Bank, Northern Virginia Food Rescue and their partners provide food.

According to the church, the 22192 ZIP code and neighboring zip codes 22125, 22193, and 22191, have high food insecurity rates. Before the food pantry's pause for construction, it served an estimated 20,000 or more people in the past year.

The food pantry will be open the second and fourth Tuesdays each month. A few of the upcoming dates are Aug. 27, Sept. 10, Sept. 24, Oct. 8 and Oct 22.

Income qualifications are not required to receive the food assistance. Potential clients can register for updates in English or Spanish by texting 833-417-5568. Residents may volunteer to prepare and serve groceries by contacting foodpantry@woodbridgenaz.com for pantry orientation dates.

WoodbridgeNaz, which dates back to 1966, also runs a free clothing closet by appointment and a community connection closet to donate household goods to nonprofits and case workers.

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.