Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — When you look around Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, about 13,200 were considered food insecure in 2018, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" interactive study.

Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity in Alexandria to 14 percent 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 Alexandria are:

• Food pantry by First Christian Church of Alexandria, 2723 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302
• Milk and Honey Food Pantry by Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church, 8220 Russell Road, Alexandria, VA 22309
• Christ House Food Pantry by Catholic Charities Diocese Of Arlington (CCDA), 131 South West Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
• Emergency assistance by Salvation Army National Capital Area Command, 1804 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301
• SHARE Food Network of Virginia by Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington, 1401 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
• West End Lazarus Food Pantry by Church of the Resurrection, 5150 Fillmore Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311
• Food pantry by Grace Episcopal Church, 3601 Russell Road, Alexandria, VA 22305
• Food pantry by Action Chapel Virginia, 6315 Bren Mar Drive, Alexandria, VA 22312
• Food assistance program (for campus community) by Northern Virginia Community College, 5000 Dawes Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311
• Truck-to-Trunk COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution by ALIVE!, Inc., 3600 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305
• Emergency food and food pantry by Agape Health Management, Inc, 6349 Lincolnia Road, Alexandria, VA 22312
• Mother of Light Center, 421 Clifford Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305

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.