Loudoun Hunger Relief Scales Up Operations During Coronavirus

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Loudoun Hunger Relief is asking for financial support, as well as food donations, in September in conjunction with Hunger Action Month. The group is open to receive donations six days a week at its Leesburg pantry location to meet the unprecedented demand for food since the start of the coronavirus crisis.

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, Loudoun Hunger Relief has distributed more than 1 million pounds of food to 14,000 families in Loudoun County. That's equal to providing food to about 55,000 individuals, the group said.

The number of families seeking the group's services has increased from about 250 a week to a peak of about 800 a week. In normal times, Loudoun Hunger Relief generally distributes between 1.4 and 1.6 million pounds of food through about 64,000 individual service interactions in a 12-month period.

In addition to directly helping families, Loudoun Hunger Relief has worked with other organizations, including Loudoun County Public Schools, Women Giving Back and the Loudoun County Department of Family Services.

“We have scaled our operations up to meet the need for food among those experiencing unemployment and economic hardship," Loudoun Hunger Relief Executive Director Jennifer Montgomery said Wednesday in a statement. "We’re proud to have been able to distribute over a million pounds of food in five months, but alarmed by the ongoing crisis that is making this effort necessary."

Founded in 1991, Loudoun Hunger Relief is observing Hunger Action Month with social media posts containing facts about hunger in Loudoun County in the time of coronavirus. Food donations are most helpful if they are breakfast cereal, hearty soups, or canned tuna and chicken. Visit Loudoun Hunger's website for drop-off times. The group is located at 750 Miller Drive, Suite A-1 in Leesburg.

Loudoun residents in need of food can make appointments for food by calling 703-777-5911 or visiting the group's website. LHR service hours and mobile pantry information is available on the website.

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.