Find Your Volunteer "Home" with Food For Neighbors

During the March 6th Food For Neighbors Red Bag Program food collection, generous community members donated over 20,000 pounds of food for middle and high school students in 23 Northern Virginia schools. This record-breaking amount of food requires a large cadre of enthusiastic supporters. Food For Neighbors thanks its over 1,500 Red Bag Program food donors and over 1,000 volunteers for their dedication to fighting teen food insecurity, and the nonprofit welcomes additional volunteers to sign up at https://www.foodforneighbors.org/get-involved/.

Food For Neighbors offers food collection, sorting, packing, and distribution opportunities in several locations for various ages and abilities. March 6th volunteers in Herndon included professionals, students, and retirees. Some, like the D'Souzas, made it a family affair.

Fiona and Peter D'Souza began volunteering with Food For Neighbors approximately two years ago as drivers. Five times per year, they receive a planned route of approximately 25 homes from which to collect food donations left on doorsteps in bright red bags. Every time, their elementary-age children, Ella and Micah, eagerly don their Food For Neighbors caps and help, no matter the weather. It’s a fun, family event, although the D'Souzas have yet to add their two dogs and cat to the outing.

Like many in Northern Virginia, the D'Souzas have not lived in the area their whole lives. Over four years ago, they moved from California. Fiona works with Wise Men, Inc., which is based in Texas. Peter works with Esri. A GIS organization based in California, Esri is enthusiastic about education, conservation, and sustainability. Food For Neighbors is happy that the D'Souzas have found a welcoming home with the Red Bag Program food collection.

“I think the biggest lessons my kids have learned is being part of a community, and that entails giving back anytime we can,” shared Peter. “Seeing the generosity demonstrated by everyone during each pickup event is so amazing! Every once in a while, we get an opportunity to chat with someone who’s left a red bag out, and the empathy and love that is echoed in these brief interactions reminds us each time of how blessed we are to belong to such a supportive community. We love being a part of this group and look forward to finding more ways to help out!”