Stuff The Bus Food Drives Coming Up On 2 Dates In Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Stuff the Bus, a food drive at locations around Fairfax County, will return in 2021 on two upcoming dates: Saturday, Jan. 30 and Saturday, Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Stuff the Bus started in 2011 as a way to restock food pantries after the holiday. Events are held twice a year at times when donations are known to drop off: after winter holidays and over the summer. On the days of the drives, buses will be parked at locations throughout Fairfax County to collect nonperishable food donations for area food pantries.

In 2020 and continuing into this year, Stuff the Bus is working to meet the increasing need for food assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fairfax County had an estimated 5.4 percent food insecurity rate in 2018; the rate was expected to be 8.4 percent by the end of 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 most requested items for food pantries that can be donated at Stuff the Bus locations are:

• Canned tuna, salmon or chicken (15 oz. or smaller)
• Soup - lower sodium (19 oz. or smaller)
• Canned pasta (16 oz. or smaller)
• Macaroni and cheese
• Canned fruit in light syrup or juice (20 oz. or smaller)
• Peanut butter (40 oz. or smaller)
• Jelly (32 oz. or smaller)
• Bag (dry) beans, peas or lentils (16 oz.)
• Rice - brown or white (5 pounds or smaller)
• Instant potatoes (16 oz. or smaller)
• Canned tomatoes - low sodium, no salt added (29 oz. or smaller)
• Pancake mix (32 oz. or smaller) and syrup
• Hot and cold cereal (42 oz. or smaller)
• Canned vegetables - low sodium, no salt added (29 oz. or smaller)
• Canned beans or peas (29 oz. or smaller)
• Healthy snacks (such as raisins, granola bars)

When arriving at a Stuff the Bus event, wear a face covering and take donations to the back of the bus. If someone else is at the back of bus, wait until they leave before approaching.

Below are the donation locations for Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the nonprofits being supported.

• Braddock District Supervisor's Office, 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015, benefits ECHO
• Commons Community Center, 5701 Roberts Parkway 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
• The American Legion, 3939 Oak Street, Fairfax, VA 22030, benefits Food for Others
• Van Dyck Park, 3720 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030, benefits Food for Others
• Pennino Building, 12011 Government Center Parkway Fairfax, VA 22035, benefits Food for Others
• Hunter Mill District Supervisor's Office, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston, VA 20190, benefits Western Fairfax Christian Ministries on Jan. 30 and Cornerstones on Feb. 6
• Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, VA 22180, benefits Western Fairfax Christian Ministries on Jan. 30 and Cornerstones on Feb. 6
• Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310, benefits United Community and Koinonia
• Island Creek Elementary School, 7855 Morning View Lane, Alexandria, VA 22315, benefits United Community and Koinonia
• Fort Hunt Elementary School, 8832 Linton Lane, Alexandria, VA 22308, benefits United Community
• Laurel Hill Elementary School, 8390 Laurel Crest Drive, Lorton, VA 22079, benefits United Community
• George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003, benefits ACCA
• Belvedere Elementary School, 6540 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041, benefits ACCA
• Providence District Supervisor's Office, 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031, benefits ACCA on Jan. 30 and Falls Church Community Service Council on Feb. 6
• James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, benefits ACCA on Jan. 30 and Falls Church Community Service Council on Feb. 6
• West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152, benefits Koinonia
• Pohick Regional Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road Burke, VA 22015, 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

For those who cannot donate in person, the county suggests making an online donation to area nonprofits.

• ECHO
• LINK
• Food for Others
• Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
• Cornerstones
• United Community
• Koinonia
• ACCA
• Falls Church Community Service Council

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 50 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.