Fairfax County Stuff The Bus Food Drives Return In September

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County's Stuff the Bus food drivers are held twice a year at times when donations are known to drop off: after winter holidays and over the summer. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic is increasing demand for assistance. The second Stuff the Bus events of 2020 will be held on two Saturdays, Sept. 12 and 26.

Stuff the Bus food drives will take place in buses at 21 locations throughout Fairfax County and Fairfax City. To allow for social distancing, buses will be parked in less-frequented locations rather than grocery store parking lots. Buses will be collecting donations at all locations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 12 and 26.

Fairfax County had an estimated 5.4 percent food insecurity rate in 2018; the rate is expected to be 10.5 percent in 2020, according to Feeding America. Citing the Capital Area Food Bank's Hunger Report 2020, the county says 72,460 people in Fairfax County are experiencing food insecurity and nonprofit partners have reported 30 to 400 percent increases in people seeking assistance.

The last Stuff the Bus food drives on May 16 and 19 collected 33.6 tons of food for area nonprofits at 21 locations. For those unable to donate in person, visit Volunteer Fairfax’s Donation Page to see donation needs for nonprofits in the community.

Individuals are asked to wear face coverings when dropping off donations for Stuff the Bus. Items should be taken to the back of the bus, and physical distancing should be followed if others are at the site.

The most common items requested by nonprofit partners for Stuff the Bus food drives include: canned tuna, salmon or chicken; soup; canned pasta; macaroni and cheese; canned fruit in light syrup or juice; peanut butter; jelly; bags of dry beans; brown or white rice; instant potatoes; canned tomatoes; pancake mix; pancake syrup; hot and cold cereal; canned vegetables; canned beans; and health snacks like raisins and granola bars.

Here are the Stuff the Bus locations:

• Braddock District Supervisor’s Office, 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015, benefits ECHO
• Oaks Community Center, 5708 Oak Leather Drive, Burke, VA 22015, benefits ECHO
• McLean Government Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101, benefits LINK
• Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066, benefits LINK
• Burkholder Building, 10700 Page Ave, Fairfax, VA 22030, benefits Food for Others
• Van Dyck Park, 3720 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030, benefits Food for Others
• Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035, benefits Food for Others
• Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s Office, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston, VA 20190, benefits Cornerstones
• Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, VA 22180, benefits Cornerstones
• Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310, benefits United Community
• Island Creek Elementary School, 7855 Morning View Lane, Alexandria, VA 22315, benefits United Community
• Fort Hunt Elementary School, 8832 Linton Lane, Alexandria, VA 22308, benefits United Community
• Halley Elementary School, 8850 Cross Chase Circle, Fairfax Station, VA 22039, benefits United Community
• George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003, benefits ACCA
• Bailey’s Upper Elementary School, 6245 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 2044, benefits ACCA
• Providence District Supervisor's Office, 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031, benefits Falls Church Community Service Council
• James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, benefits Falls Church Community Service Council
• West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152, benefits Koinonia
• Centreville High School, 6001 Union Mill Road, Clifton, VA 20124, benefits Koinonia
• Sully Government Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA 20151, benefits Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
• Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Drive, Centreville, VA 20121, benefits Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

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.