As the coronavirus crisis unfolded across our region, food banks had to expand their services to address not only the increase in the demand for food aid, but also healthcare, housing assistance, and other services.
Today, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia announced it has awarded $100,000 in grants to four organizations in a new round of funding through its Build Back – Dream Forward COVID-19 Response initiative. The grant recipients include ALIVE!, Arlington Free Clinic, Capital Area Food Bank, and The House, Inc. Each organization received a grant of $25,000 that will be used to support creative and innovative solutions for food access and distribution to residents in Northern Virginia.
“Our patients have been especially hard-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Food insecurity has greatly increased as our patients lost their jobs and income,” said Nancy White, President, Arlington Free Clinic. “AFC is working tirelessly to address needs “beyond the exam room” that dramatically impact health and well-being. Thanks to this support, we will be able to continue chipping away at these extraordinary inequities.”
“These extraordinary times highlight the need for strong partnerships more than ever before. The support of partners like the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is a critical part of our ability to respond to the increasing food needs in Northern Virginia today and in the months ahead,” said Radha Muthiah, President and CEO, Capital Area Food Bank.
Build Back – Dream Forward is the next phase in our COVID-19 Response Fund for Northern Virginia. Its purpose is to achieve economic mobility, promote racial justice and equity, and catalyze more inclusive systems of economic growth in Northern Virginia, particularly in local communities of color who have been disproportionately impacted by the virus and its fallouts.
“In a time when we rely on one another more than ever before, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia set powerfully and uniquely a model of neighbors helping neighbors,” said Helen McCormick, Founder and President of The House, Inc. “The Build Back - Dream Forward Food Reinvented award is about solidarity, not charity, and I am grateful for this mutual aid grant to help one another out as the demand for food assistance is surging.”
From March-June 2020, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia awarded nearly $2.1 million to 110 organizations through its COVID-19 Response Fund to provide emergency support to needs as they were arising throughout the region.
Complete list organizations receiving grants:
ALIVE! / $25,000
ALIVE! is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing emergency and basic needs support to all those living in poverty in the City of Alexandria, including emergency food support through its food bank, rent and utility payment assistance, and transitional housing for women and children often escaping abusive situations.
Arlington Free Clinic / $25,000
Arlington Free Clinic (AFC) is a community-based, volunteer-driven nonprofit providing free, high-quality healthcare for low-income, uninsured adult residents of Arlington County since 1994.
Capital Area Food Bank / $25,000
The mission of the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) is to provide good, healthy food in every community. As the anchor of the hunger relief infrastructure and the largest free food supplier in the region, CAFB meets the growing needs of nearly 400,000 food-insecure children, seniors, and families.
The House, Inc. / $25,000
The House, Inc. serves youth in Northern Virginia through leadership development and total health initiatives to support its mission to provide direction to children and teens to protect their future and influence and its core commitment to helping youth live their best life stories.
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