Serving Our Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Together We Can Make a Difference

This is a topic that we never dreamed we’d be covering, but these are extraordinary times. Originally, we were writing a blog on how to deal with food insecurity during Spring Break, but the reality is this pandemic imposed “break” is going to strain the resources of the food insecure in ways we could have never predicted.  Summer break can be, to a certain degree, anticipated, but a pandemic that closes schools with no determinate opening date means that the one place students rely on for a balanced meal suddenly disappears, indefinitely.  In Loudoun County, one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., this is a dangerous dose of reality to absorb.  Sadly, this just-below-the-surface struggle affects as many as 26,000 households in our area and the longer our state of emergency lasts, the more people will fall into this precarious gap. 

What Is BBFL Doing to Help?

Throughout this period of uncertainty, our mission to fund, facilitate and educate in support of weekend food programs and extended school breaks remains strong. These are unprecedented circumstances; we remain committed to our mission and we are swiftly redoubling our efforts. BBFL has been working quickly to approve and distribute emergency funds to several programs that need immediate financial assistance.

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, Loudoun County’s nonprofit community is stepping in to provide support to a substantial food insecure community.  Our organization is working closely with Mobile Hope and Loudoun Hunger Relief to assist them, share ongoing news updates, and report changes in schedules and resources as they happen.  We can all play an important role in making sure resources get to those people who need them the most as the effects of the pandemic unfold.

Here’s How You Can Support Our Efforts

If you want to help but being physically present may not be in the best interest of our community, your monetary contribution will help continue to fund emergency requests from our partner organizations.  We recognize these are anxious times, and uncertainty makes us feel powerless in a situation that is constantly evolving, but together we can make a difference.

Additionally, here’s a list of several community nonprofits providing food resources and asking for support:

Mobile Hope, a nonprofit that helps precariously housed teens and young adults, is collecting donations for breakfast and lunch to help kids who are out of school and would normally receive free or reduced lunch. To make either a financial donation or donate items, drop off is at 741 Miller Dr. in Leesburg, or visit https://www.mobilehopeloudoun.org/ for more information.

Loudoun Hunger Relief provides food assistance to all residents in need, and LHR is seeking either financial or food donations. The organization is currently maintaining regular service hours at their 750 Miller Dr. Leesburg location or visit https://www.loudounhunger.org/ for more information.

Tree of Life Ministries will continue to offer weekly free community meals in Purcellville and Leesburg. They also offer food deliveries from their food pantry, which provides a two-week supply of groceries. In addition, they are collecting items to provide breakfast and lunch bags for kids, such as hot dogs, deli meat, non-perishable milk, potatoes, soups and cereal. For more information or for assistance, visit http://www.tolministries.org/ or call 540-441-7920.

Lucketts Community Food Pantry, a ministry of Faith Chapel Community Church is open on the second Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The church will pre-pack bags and distribute them to shoppers as they arrive. Donations of cheese, cooking oil, canned fruit, black beans, pasta sauce, flour tortillas, breakfast cereal and snack bars are currently being accepted. Drop-off donations are at 14188 Chapel Lane in Leesburg or call 703-608-8616. For additional information visit their website at https://www.faith-chapel.com/our-food-pantry

Loudoun County Public Schools will be offering meal service from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meals will be available at select schools, and all students can receive two meals daily and can choose to take both meals simultaneously. Meals will be distributed outside select school buildings in a designated area that will vary from school to school. Visit lcps.org for more information.

Dulles South Food Pantry, located in the Arcola United Methodist Church at 24757 Arcola Mills Dr., provides food, personal supplies and other assistance to those in need in the Dulles South area of Loudoun County. The organization is currently offering food distribution hours on Wednesdays by appointment only.  Supplemental food will be provided to families with children on LCPS’s free and reduced meals program.  Visit their website at https://www.dsfp.org/ or call 703-507-2795 to make an appointment to receive food.

The Community Church Messiah's Market food pantry is at 19790 Ashburn Road in Ashburn. It is currently accepting donations and offering food assistance to anyone in need. Visit http://www.communitychurch.cc/about-us/outreach/messiahs-market to learn more about their services.

Women Giving Back is collecting items for student “snack packs.” Suggested items include small boxes of cereal, oatmeal packets, microwavable mac and cheese, pudding or Jell-O cups, granola bars, fruit snacks, goldfish, juice boxes and water bottles. Women Giving Back is located at 20 Export Dr. in Sterling or visit their website at https://womengivingback.org/.

The Town of Hillsboro is partnering with Mobile Hope to organize the collection and distribution of food in northwest Loudoun County. Donations of non-perishable and packaged food may be dropped off on March 16 and 23 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Old Stone School on Charles Town Pike. People in need of assistance may pick up a bag of groceries March 17, 19, 24 and 26 between 4 and 6 p.m. at the Old Stone School. For more information, visit http://www.hillsborova.gov/.