Need for Food Increases as Emergency SNAP Benefits End

During the pandemic recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps families that are food insecure, got an extra mid-month benefit to help with groceries. A couple of weeks ago, on March 1st, this temporary increase ended. Because of this, families are losing $95 to more than $250 a month which will force them to make difficult choices regarding their budget like choosing between food, medicine, shoes for their children, or gas to get to their jobs.

NVFS has already seen a 10-15% increase in need at our Hunger Resource Center (HRC) in Manassas. We look to you, our community, to help us ensure that our neighbors have the food they need to thrive during their journey to well-being.

Check out the details of our food drive and our most needed food items. Together, we can help our neighbors facing hunger.

Here are three ways to get involved:

1. Pick up a few extra items at the grocery store and drop them off at the HRC or, for a limited time, at our Headquarters in Oakton.

2. Start a food drive with your friends, neighbors or colleagues focused on our high need items.

3. Send your most generous gift today.

Join Us at the Road to Independence Gala on May 5th

Once a year, we gather together at NVFS' Road to Independence Gala to highlight the strength and resilience of the families we work with. We hope you will join us to celebrate how these children, teens, adults, and families build the foundations for healthy, successful futures through their hope, hard work, confidence, and the support of NVFS, and our donors, partners, and volunteers.

Register or sponsor this fun and inspiring evening knowing that, together, we create a stronger and more vibrant community for everyone. We hope to see you there!

Volunteer Spotlight: Celebrating our Shelter Kitchen Assistants on the International Day of Awesome

March 10th was the International Day of Awesome, a chance to celebrate the awesomeness around you. At NVFS, we continually celebrate our volunteers as they are a huge reason we are able to help 30,000+ kids, teens, and adults a year on their journey to well-being. We recognized the awesome of some of our NVFS SERVE Family Shelter Kitchen Assistants: Julia Cole, Sheila Goux, Laurie Krizmanich, and Ken Wright.

Our kitchen assistants are vital to ensuring that our guests get the healthy and tasty meals they need during their journey. Through partnering with our shelter kitchen manager, the assistants ensure daily kitchen operations and needs are met. They maintain food quality and cleanliness, help with meal prep, and serve lunch to our guests.

"Cooking is sharing love to me, so I'm happy to have a chance to spread some love in the world. The act of serving lunch, which to me seems so simple, can be the highlight of someone's day!" explained Julie Cole.

A BIG thank you to our shelter kitchen assistants and all our awesome volunteers! One day is truly not enough to celebrate you and the difference you make in our community.

To find a volunteer opportunity that speaks to you, visit our volunteer webpage or contact one of our volunteer coordinators who can tailor an experience that makes a difference to you and our neighbors.