Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA — When you look around your community, it's easy to see the effects the coronavirus has had on our way of life. What's less visible is the number of people who are now worrying about having enough to eat.

Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, says coronavirus-related economic crises could push the number of food insecure Americans to 54 million by year's end.

That's 17 million more Americans than who were food insecure before the pandemic. For some, it's a matter of running short on grocery money before the week is out and eating a lot of boxed pasta and rice dishes.

For others, food insecurity means real hunger.

In the City of Falls Church, about 630 people were considered food insecure in 2018, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" interactive study. The estimated number for Fairfax County was 61,710.

Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity to 9.5 percent in Falls Church City and 10.5 percent in Fairfax County by the end of the year.

Feeding America, whose 200 member food banks include the Capitol Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support.

Some of food pantries and other services available in Falls Church area are:

• Food for Others - neighborhood food distribution sites by Food For Others, Inc.
• Weekend bag by Homestretch Inc., 303 S Maple Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046
• Breakfast and lunch pickup by Falls Church City Public Schools, order for Friday pickup at George Mason High School or Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
• Food distribution by La Iglesia Episcopal de Santa Maria, 7000 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22042
• Emergency assistance by Falls Church Community Service Council, 7416 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22042
• Food pantry by St. Philip Catholic Church, 7500 Saint Phillips Court, Falls Church, VA 22042
• Food bank by Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center, 3159 Row Street, Falls Church, VA 22044
• Spend Yourself Food Pantry by Columbia Baptist Church, 3245 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041
• Food pantry by Columbia Baptist Church, 3245 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041
• Emergency food and food pantry by St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 3305 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041
• Emergency food and food pantry by Culmore United Methodist Church

RELATED: Millions Made Hungry During Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor

Food insecurity is often thought of as a “poor people’s problem,” but not all people living in poverty are food insecure, and not all food insecure people live in poverty. Food insecurity is a complex issue sandwiched in with other systemic challenges, including poverty, low wages, affordable housing shortages, chronic and acute health problems, high medical costs and social isolation.

“Our members are reporting that many of the people they’re serving have never sought food assistance before,” Kathryn Strickland, Feeding America’s chief network officer, told Patch. “Some people are reporting that people who formerly donated to food banks are now seeking assistance.”

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 2020, more than 54 million Americans will 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.