AFAC's Blog

Hello.

While our client count remains high, I am more impressed than ever with all the efforts you in the Arlington community are making for AFAC. Food donations from the community are now over 180,000 pounds for this fiscal year. Your response to the Feinstein Challenge has been better than ever by far, and volunteer hours are well over 17,000 (the equivalent of nearly 8 full time people). Your efforts mean that many Arlington families are in their homes, healthier and better fed. Thank you!

Upcoming Events

Front Page Fundraiser, Sunday, March 28th, 3-9pm
This Sunday, March 28 from 3-9pm, The Front Page, a Ballston restaurant with great American grub, will participate in the Feinstein Challenge by hosting a fundraiser and raffle for AFAC. The Front Page is located at 4201 Wilson Blvd. There will be special appearances by some Washington Capitals players throughout the evening. Be one of the first 100 people to bring a non-perishable food item and receive a prize! There will also be a Silent Auction of autographed Mike Green and Alex Ovechkin jerseys and other items. You can purchase a $10 wristband to receive 1/2 price appetizers and $2 Bud Light bottles until 9pm.

Feinstein Time
There are three ways you can help AFAC qualify for funds from the Feinstein challenge opportunity. First, just make a financial donation. Be sure to mark your gift ‘Feinstein’. Secondly, hold a food drive for AFAC. Every pound of food collected for Feinstein Food Drives will count as $1 for the challenge. And lastly, support the Feinstein Virtual Food Drive. This is an easy way to give – indoor work and no heavy lifting! — and every dollar you donate this way also qualifies for the challenge.

Shred for Bread, April 10th, 10am-1pm
This year’s Shred for Bread event will be held on Saturday, April 10th. This event will allow you to bring your paper that needs to be shredded to Little Falls Presbyterian Church (6025 Little Falls Road, Arlington 22207) and be shredded by our friends at ProShred in exchange for your monetary or food donation to AFAC. Stop by between 10am and 1pm.

“Let’s Retake Our Plates” Whole Foods Film Series
Whole Foods Market is hosting a film festival about our food supply and the visionary people who are making it better, one bite at a time. Please join us at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse on Tuesday, April 13th, to view “No Impact Man” and Tuesday, April 20th, to view “Fresh.” at 7:30pm. Cost is $5, benefitting AFAC. Two to three volunteers are needed to represent AFAC, collect donations and bring them to AFAC after the event. Please contact volunteer4afac@afac.org if available to help.

The Westin Arlington Gateway
As you think about your holiday plans, please keep in mind a new partnership we have with the Westin Arlington Gateway. Reserve a date for your December 2010 holiday gathering, and the hotel will donate 3% of your celebration’s food and beverage total (before service charge and sales tax) to AFAC! Reservations must be booked by June 30, 2010. For more information about holiday packages, please contact them at 703.537.4242 or visit
http://www.westinarlingtongateway.com.

Mark your calendars!
You can find more information about the many upcoming AFAC events on our website event page.
Canstruction Build Out: April 16th
5th Annual Science Focus School 5K Race: Saturday, May 1st
Letter Carriers Food Drive: Saturday, May 8th
Zonta Food Drive for AFAC at Giant on Washington Blvd: Saturday, May 15th, 9am-5pm.
Annual AFAC Fundraiser: Tuesday, June 8th
Volunteer Appreciation Picnic: Sunday, June 13th, 5-7pm.
Volunteer Opportunities

Front desk help needed
We are looking for volunteers to help answer phones Monday and Tuesday afternoons from 2:30-5:00pm. Please contact volunteer4afac@afac.org if you are able to help.

Can you grow some vegetable seedlings for AFAC?
Seedlings will be distributed in late April/early May to our clients and gardeners who pledge to “Plant A Row” of vegetables for AFAC. Tomato, pepper and eggplant seedlings are especially welcome (but if you will be dividing herbs or a strawberry bed and can bring repotted plants, those would help too). Free seeds are available now to gardeners pledging to grow vegetables for AFAC. Contact Puwen at puwen.lee@afac.org for more information.
Here are the latest AFAC client statistics.

Client Count Week ending:Families*AdultsChildren% increase
March 201321 2351 1442-
1 year ago 11512021123314.7%
2 years ago 725137573282.2%

*The family count consists of Adults and Children.

Thank you

10,000 Pound Potato Drop
This week, each AFAC client was been able to take home a 10-pound bag of potatoes, thanks to a donation from the Society of St. Andrews and Fairlington United Methodist Church. Our thanks, as well, to Jr. ROTC cadets from the Arlington Career Center for helping load the AFAC truck last Saturday morning. ROTC cadets and Georgetown University CSOC students helped to re-bag 8,000 pounds in an afternoon session at AFAC. If you would like information on how to sponsor a similar load of produce from an area gleaning network for AFAC clients or are interested in getting a group to glean fields and orchards in the summer and fall, please contact Puwen at puwen.lee@afac.org.

Christine

Christine Lucas
AFAC Executive Director
703.845.8486
Christine.Lucas@afac.org
http://www.afac.org

Hello.

Here are the latest statistics on AFAC’s client count.

Client Count Week ending: Families* Adults Children % increase
March 13 1366 2482 1530 -
1 year ago 1096 1983 1265 24.6%
2 years ago 837 1450 756 63%

*The family count consists of Adults and Children.
Upcoming Events

Feinstein Time
Allan Shawn Feinstein, a philanthropist from Rhode Island, is again matching money raised by food pantries around the country during March and April. There are three ways you can help AFAC qualify for funds from the challenge opportunity. First, just make a financial donation. Be sure to mark your gift ‘Feinstein’. Secondly, hold a food drive for AFAC. Every pound of food collected for Feinstein Food Drives will count as $1 for the challenge. And lastly, support the Feinstein Virtual Food Drive. This is an easy way to give – indoor work and no heavy lifting! – and every dollar you donate this way also qualifies for the challenge.

AFAC sending corn seeds to Haiti through Engage in Change (EIC)
In the aftermath of the earthquake, EIC has focused on helping rural communities who are experiencing surges of displaced family members and other people from areas affected by the earthquake. Seed reserves have been eaten and this seed shortage has meant that these villages are facing a dire food shortage and risk mass starvation. With the rainy season approaching, planting will begin. AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger project will be sending corn seeds which have been donated to us to these villages in Haiti. If you would like more information about how you can help EIC, please contact Sharon Bean at SBean@encompassworld.com. If you have seed to send with this shipment, please contact Puwen at puwen.lee@afac.org.

Save the Date
The Front Page, a Ballston restaurant with great American grub, will participate in the Feinstein Challenge by hosting a fundraiser and raffle for AFAC on Sunday evening, March 28. The Front Page is located in Arlington at 4201 Wilson Blvd. Watch this space in coming weeks for details of this fun event.

Shred for Bread, April 10, 10am-1pm
This year’s Shred for Bread event will be held on Saturday, April 10. This event will allow you to bring your paper that needs to be shredded to Little Falls Presbyterian Church (6025 Little Falls Road, Arlington 22207) and be shredded by our friends at ProShred in exchange for a monetary or food donation to AFAC. Stop by between 10am and 1pm.

5th Annual Science Focus School 5K Race
Saturday, May 1st, is the 5th Annual Science Focus 5k. The race supports the Arlington Science Focus School PE Department and PTA programs to improve learning through healthy eating, better fitness, and community service. Racers are being asked to bring a non perishable food item on race day to support AFAC! To get a registration form for the race, visit http://asfsonline.org/. To volunteer the day of the run, contact us at volunteer4afac@afac.org.
Volunteer Opportunities

Collect donations at Shred for Bread on April 10
We need one more volunteer on Saturday, April 10, from noon – 2pm, to represent AFAC at Shred for Bread at Little Falls Presbyterian Church. You’ll work with another volunteer to collect donations and then drive the food down to AFAC to unload. Contact Laura Jackson to volunteer.

Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
Please mark your calendars for Sunday, June 13 from 5-7pm at AFAC. We will be having our Volunteer Appreciation Picnic. We’d appreciate assistance planning the picnic. Please contact volunteer4afac@afac.org if you can help.

Can you grow some vegetable seedlings for AFAC?
Seedlings will be distributed in late April/early May to our clients and gardeners who pledge to “plant a row” of vegetables for AFAC. Tomato, pepper and eggplant seedlings are especially welcome (but if you will be dividing herbs or a strawberry bed & can bring repotted plants, those would help too). Free seeds are available now to gardeners pledging to grow vegetables for AFAC. Contact Puwen at puwen.lee@afac.org for more information.

Thank you

Thank you to all individuals, schools, and groups for holding food drives for AFAC. Thank you especially to HB Woodlawn MIddle and High School, Ashlawn Elementary School, Nottingham Elementary School, Tuckahoe Elementary School, Carlin Hall Preschool, and Arlington Young Democrats.

Also, thank you to Brownie Troup 3224, 2nd graders from Arlington Science Focus School, and Mt. Olivet Church for putting together emergency food kits (EFKs).

We need and appreciate your support.
Christine

Christine Lucas
AFAC Executive Director
703.845.8486
Christine.Lucas@afac.org
http://www.afac.org

Hello.

Feinstein Time
Allan Shawn Feinstein, a philanthropist from Rhode Island, is again matching money raised by food pantries around the country during March and April.
There are three ways you can help AFAC qualify for funds from the challenge opportunity. First, just make a financial donation. Be sure to mark your gift ‘Feinstein’. Secondly, hold a food drive for AFAC. Every pound of food collected for Feinstein Food Drives will count as $1 for the challenge. And lastly, support the Feinstein Virtual Food Drive. This is an easy way to give – indoor work and no heavy lifting! – and every dollar you donate this way also qualifies for the challenge.

Here are the latest statistics on AFAC’s client count.

Client Count Week ending: Families* Adults Children % increase
February 27 1381 2456 1543 -
1 year ago 1083 1944 1165 27.5%
2 years ago 735 1222 648 87.9%

*The family count consists of Adults and Children.
Volunteer Opportunities

Conducting a Feinstein Food Drive for AFAC?
Most-needed food items are canned proteins (tuna, salmon, meat-based stews and soups), cereal, pasta and canned pasta sauces (no glass please) and dried beans. Please see our website food drive page for suggestions on how to conduct a food drive & to download a flier.

Can you grow some vegetable seedlings for AFAC?
Seedlings will be distributed in late April/early May to our clients and gardeners who pledge to “plant a row” of vegetables for AFAC. Tomato, pepper and eggplant seedlings are especially welcome (but if you will be dividing herbs or a strawberry bed & can bring repotted plants, those would help too). Free seeds are available now to garderners pledging to grow vegetables for AFAC. Contact Puwen at puwen.lee@afac.org for more information.

Plastic bags needed.
Don’t toss them out. We can use your re-usable bags. Our clients often need bags to hold groceries. If you have re-usable plastic grocery bags or paper bags with handles that have been piling up at home, please bring them to us. We can definitely use them (this also helps us avoid using precious resources to purchase new bags).

Upcoming Events

Yoga for Good
Friday, March 5, 2010 (tonight!!)from 6:00-7:00pm, registered yoga instructor Jane Phelan will be offering an all-levels yoga class at Sun and Moon Studio in North Arlington. Jane has been teaching yoga in the Kripalu Tradition for over 20 years and is offering this class at no cost, with all donations benefiting the Arlington Food Assistance Center. No registration is necessary. More information: http://www.sunandmoonstudio.com or 703.525.YOGA. 3811 Lee Hwy. Arlington, VA 22207

Laugh for AFAC
Here’s a fun evening for the whole family. Michael Shea has produced six comedy shorts by six local directors. There will be a premiere screening of the shorts on Friday, March 12 at 7:00 PM at Arlington Independent Media. We’ve been picked by director Hilary Freer as her favorite nonprofit. Come and see all the films. A small donation ($2 person or $5 family) is requested. The audience will vote for their favorite funny movie ,and the winning director’s favorite nonprofit will get the proceeds from the door. So, come, laugh and vote for “Old Timer” by Hilary Freer. The screenings will be at AIM, 2701-C Boulevard in Arlington (convenient to both Courthouse and Clarendon Metro stops). All are welcome!

Shred for Bread (Again!)
This year’s Shred for Bread event will be April 10, 2010. This event will allow you to bring your paper that needs to be shredded to Little Falls Presbyterian Church and be shredded by our friends at ProShred in exchange for a donation to AFAC. More details soon.

Thank you

Thank you to the many schools who have organized food drives for AFAC recently – Arlington Traditional School, Henderson Middle School, Oakridge Elementary School, and Williamsburg Middle School. The large amount of food we received from holiday food drives has already been distributed to clients so we are thankful for all new donations. Thanks also to Gary Gortenburg, Jim Frison, Randy Randall and Bill Doroh, the volunteers who picked up the food donations and delivered them to AFAC.
Christine

Christine Lucas
AFAC Executive Director
703.845.8486
Christine.Lucas@afac.org
http://www.afac.org

Hello.

Here are the latest statistics on AFAC’s client count.

Client Count Week ending: Families* Adults Children % increase
February 20 1292 2343 1425 -
1 year ago 1083 1944 1165 19.3%
2 years ago 735 1222 648 75.7%

*The family count consists of Adults and Children.

Gone already?!
I know it might be somewhat difficult to imagine, but much of the food donated to AFAC over the holidays has been distributed already. Our increasing client load has meant that we move through our food supplies faster. Please consider doing a food drive for AFAC soon. We need and appreciate your help.

Upcoming Events

Yoga for Good
Friday, March 5, 2010 from 6:00-7:00pm, registered yoga instructor Jane Pehlan will be offering an all-levels yoga class at Sun and Moon Studio in North Arlington. Jane has been teaching yoga in the Kripalu Tradition for over 20 years and is offering this class at no cost, with all donations benefiting the Arlington Food Assistance Center. No registration is necessary. More information: http://www.sunandmoonstudio.com or 703.525.YOGA. 3811 Lee Hwy. Arlington, VA 22207

Feinstein Time
Allan Shawn Feinstein, a philanthropist from Rhode Island, is again matching money raised by food pantries around the country during March and April.
There are three ways you can help AFAC qualify for funds from the challenge opportunity. First, just make a financial donation. Be sure to mark your gift ‘Feinstein’. Secondly, hold a food drive for AFAC. Every pound of food collected for Feinstein Food Drives will count as $1 for the challenge. And lastly, support the Feinstein Virtual Food Drive. This is an easy way to give – indoor work and no heavy lifiting! – and every dollar you donate this way also qualifies for the challenge. Just look for the chicken on our website!

Shred for Bread (Again!)
This year’s Shred for Bread event will be April 10, 2010. This event will allow you to bring your paper that needs to be shredded to Little Falls Presbyterian Church and be shredded by our friends at ProShred in exchange for a donation to AFAC. More details soon.
Volunteer Opportunities

Can you grow some vegetable seedlings for AFAC?
Thanks to the volunteers who helped sort seed donations for us this past month. Now we’re seeking volunteer gardeners to grow vegetable seedlings for us to distribute. Seedlings will be distributed in late April/early May to our clients and gardeners who pledge to “plant a row” of vegetables for AFAC. Tomato, pepper and eggplant seedlings are especially welcome (but if you will be dividing herbs or a strawberry bed & can bring repotted plants, those would help too).

For information on AFAC’s produce “Plot Against Hunger” program, visit AFAC’s Plot against Hunger website at: http://sites.google.com/site/afacplotagainsthunger/Home or contact Puwen at puwen.lee@afac.org. Free seeds will be available beginning in March to gardeners pledging to grow vegetables for AFAC.

Family Bagging Night Change
Because of the overwhelming response to Family Bagging Nights, we will need to limit the number of families who can come help on those evenings. If your family would like to volunteer, we ask that you email the volunteer department at volunteer4afac@afac.org to reserve a space. We will be able to accommodate six (6) families for those evenings. We have enough volunteers for March. Please check back with us in March for late Spring opportunities. There are other ways that families can help AFAC. Please check out our web site at http://www.afac.org to find out how.

Thank you
Christine

Christine Lucas
AFAC Executive Director
703.845.8486
Christine.Lucas@afac.org
http://www.afac.org