Since the end of November, ABCD has been distributing 2 boxes of food to 360 families at the adjacent elementary school. Arlington Boulevard Community Development Organization staffs the event which starts around 11:30 and food distribution occurs from 1:30 - 3pm every Monday through the end of the year. At this event, Dalia Palchik, the County Supervisor for the Providence District, State Senator Chap Petersen, were participating along with Alexander and John Freeman. The food is provided by the Capital Area Food Bank and includes one box of non-perishable groceries and one box of either dairy or fresh produce.
ABCD has had the privilege of being part of a partnership with Food For Others, the Capital area FoodBank, Fairfax County Public Schools Office of Facility Management and Supervisor Dalia Palchik, since the middle of September. Funding for the program was first sponsored by the Farm to Families USDA Program under the CARES ACT. The program is now funded through Virginia State funds.
Boxes of both perishable (vegetables) and canned or non-perishable food have been distributed to over 300 families at the Graham Road Community Building every Monday since the middle of September. ABCD staff and board member Barbara Peters, plus volunteers from Knox Presbyterian Church, Supervisor Palchik and Vanessa Simpson, Kingsley Computer Club House Director Ivan Mejias-Martinez, KCCH staff Sharika Thomas and Carolina Dotel from Falls Church High School, have distributed the boxes to both walk up pedestrians and families in cars.Fairfax County Police Department and B&B Security have helped with the traffic control.
On Dec. 14, John Freeman, ABCD Board President, presented Gillain Kimura, from the Capital Area Food Bank, with a check for 5,000 to help continue the work of the partnership.
