October Food Drive In Alexandria To Support Hospitality Workers

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Last week, Visit Alexandria detailed the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry during its annual meeting. Now it is joining other destination marketing organizations in hosting food drives to help hospitality workers.

CVBReps, a membership-based organization for destination marketing organizations, is hosting food drives through 60 members, including Visit Alexandria. Alexandria's food drive will occur from Oct. 1 to 15, starting with donation collections and leading up to distributions.

While there are 60 destination marketing organizations participating, the food drive is the brainchild of Carla Bascope-Hebble, director of group sales at Visit Alexandria, and Liz Dane, regional director of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater in Florida. The food drive is focused on the hospitality industry as meetings and conventions drop off during the pandemic.

"There's no question that the pandemic has hit conventions and meeting really hard," Dane told Patch.

In places like DC and Alexandria, meetings are considered a huge part of the economy. That's why the pandemic's impact on meetings have a trickle-down effect on businesses like restaurants and transportation services. Organizations like Visit Alexandria have shifted to a more regional approach to meetings, and Dane says surveys show people want to return to in-person meetings once it is safe to do so. In the meantime, the food drive will help hospitality workers who need help during the pandemic.

Residents can drop off food donations at a collection box inside the Alexandria Visitor Center, 221 King Street, from Oct. 1 to 11. In addition, unopened canned good donations will be accepted by members of CVBReps on Oct. 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town, 900 Diagonal Road. Anyone donating items can drive up to the hotel and hand off bagged items to a member of CVBReps.

Needed items include canned meat, canned soups, shelf stable and powdered milk, cereal, granola bars and grains, pasta and pasta sauce, canned vegetables, canned tomatoes, cooking oils, peanut butter, pet food and rice.

In addition to the food donations collected, CVBReps will provide fresh goods to add variety to the food being distributed. American Feed Industry Association has also donated pet food to be included in distribution bags.

CVBReps and local meeting planners will fill donation bags on Oct. 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town. Any local meeting planners that would like to join can email Carla Bascope-Hebble at cbhebble@visitalexva.com or Liz Dane at liz@visitpc.com.

On Oct. 15, the food distribution will happen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town. Local hospitality and event industry employees and their families are invited to collect the food through a drive-thru distribution. While the event is focused on the hospitality industry, anyone is welcome to receive food donations, according to Dane. Masks are required at all food donation and distribution events.

Bascope-Hebble said every hotel in Alexandria has been contacted about the food drive so they can notify employees who have been furloughed. Hotels in surrounding jurisdictions as well as Visit Alexandria's member restaurants have been notified as well.

Any items not distributed will be donated to United Community, which runs a food pantry south of the city in the Route 1 corridor of Fairfax County. United Community has provided guidance to the CVBReps for the food drive and acknowledged that their own clients seeking food pantry assistance include many with hospitality jobs, according to Dane.

Residents can help by donating to the food drive or notifying people in need about the distribution. For those who cannot donate in person, contributions can be made to United Community with a note mentioning the CVBReps food drive.

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.