Spotlight on Arlington Food Assistance Center
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, August 19th, 2011
Corn in the Arlington Central Library demo garden (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger Project
As you’ve picked up and dropped off your summer reading, have you wondered about the sweet corn, collards, tomatillos, pole beans, basil, and host of other crops flourishing along the periphery of Arlington’s Central Library? Well, they aren’t just for show. The demonstration vegetable and herb garden, now in its second year, was planted in partnership with Potomac Vegetable Farms, Potomac Overlook Regional Park, Girl Scout Troup 1431, and USDA The People’s Garden as part of the Arlington Food Assistance Center’s Plot Against Hunger Project.
Collards in the Arlington Central Library demo garden (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
The Plot Against Hunger Project, launched in 2007, supports the AFAC’s mission of bringing fresh produce to Arlington families in need. This fresh produce makes an essential contribution to the non-perishable groceries, milk, meat, and bread that the AFAC supplies to its clients, as it is comparably more expensive than foods that are higher in calories but lower in nutrients.
Sources of the Project’s donations include local schools, community and faith-based organizations, farms/commercial growers, area farmers market vendors, and civilian gardeners. The AFAC even has free seeds it will supply for planting. To date, the Project has received in excess of 400,000 pounds of donated fresh produce.
Plot Against Hunger also sponsors informational events, like Wednesday’s fall gardening talk, to champion the benefits of sustainably grown produce.
To learn more about the Arlington Central garden and to track its progress, click here; or watch the latest in garden video tours commentated by AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger Coordinator Puwen Lee. Also look for information on upcoming educational events on the Central library’s outdoor board. For more on the Plot Against Hunger Project, contact the AFAC.
Arlington Food Assistance Center Center’s Plot Against Hunger Project
2708 S. Nelson St.
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 845-8486
http://plotagainsthunger.afac.org/
(Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
September is Hunger Action Month and the AFAC Needs A Few Good Volunteers
And speaking of plotting against hunger . . . September is national Hunger Action Month (HAM) and the AFAC is looking for volunteers for a variety of Arlington events to raise awareness and collect both food and monetary donations for 15,000 food insecure Arlingtonians. Arlington’s HAM launches on August 31 at Shirlington’s Bus Boys & Poets with live music and a food drive.
Gleaning
Volunteer on Saturday mornings to glean crops from two Arlington farms on Saturdays (September 3, 10, 17, and 24). All food will go to AFAC clients. (Note that the gleaning program runs from July through the end of October so there are other opportunities to pick produce. You will need to fill out a Volunteer Profile Form available online before you can schedule a gleaning date).
Safeway Food Drives
One hundred volunteers are needed at five area stores to work two-hour shifts. Volunteers can assist with a range of tasks, including collecting and sorting of donated food, as well as driving, pick-up and transport. (September 10 and September 17, 10 a.m. -1 p.m.)
Shred for Bread
Bring food donations to the Church of the Brethern (300 North Montague St.) as ProShred takes care of destroying your personal documents. Two volunteers are need for both the 9:30-11:30 a.m. shift and the 11:30-1:30 p.m. shift. (September 17)
Restaurant Days
Already a Northside or Screwtop regular? Put yourself to good use where everybody knows your name. AFAC Ambassadors staff happy hours and wine tastings at area restaurants and food establishments (Marvelous Market, Whitlow’s on Wilson, Northside Social, and Screwtop Wine Bar).
If you are interested in donating your time and talents for the worthiest of causes, email volunteer4afac@afac.org, or call (703) 845-8486. For a full list of Arlington HAM events and activities, click here.
Happy Friday!
-Johnisha M. Levi
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