Food Drives

We distributed food to prepare more than 620,000 healthy, well-balanced meals to children and families in need.

Food drives are especially helpful to Loudoun Interfaith Relief, Inc. Please make sure to contact us at (703) 777-5911 before beginning your food drive. This allows us to help you plan, offer suggestions, and coordinate the delivery of the food. We do provide tax receipts.

Food drives are an excellent way for our young people to get involved in their community. Schools, scouts, church groups – any youth organization is encouraged to hold a food drive.

This summer, LIR has taken on a new challenge. We are launching a special program designed to help families during the summer while school is closed. It is called the Summer Pack program. Families with school age children will be receiving an extra bag of food with items to make breakfast and lunch. This program will end on August 31, 2010. So far, LIR has provided additional food assistance to more than 5,000 children. We distribute items in small containers like: juice boxes, cereal, breakfast bars, macaroni & cheese, Chef Boyardee products and peanut butter crackers.

While the need for food to support the Summer Pack Program continues - we are extremely worried about being able to have enough food to help our families in the fall months. Please consider donating the following food items.

Wish List

1. Cereal
2. 100% juice
3. Canned fruit
4. Canned meats (tuna or chicken)
5. Mac and Cheese
6. Chef Boyardee products
7. Hearty soups

Gift cards to area grocery stores are always helpful or monetary donations will be greatly appreciated as well.

Tips to Plan your Food Drive

Think of a theme - for the summer - consider..."Dive into Summer". Businesses could use an inflatable pool - make it look like a plate, then add a fork, spoon and knife! Have employees fill the plate with food!!

•    Any time of year is good!
•    Organize and delegate duties
•    Spread the word
•    Use your creativity for themes
•    Let people donate dollars instead of cans, if they wish
•    Every donation is gratefully appreciated

Download "Host a Successful Food Drive" (Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Download "Food Drive Flyer" (Microsoft Word format)

One More Thought…

Join other Loudoun County residents who Plant a Row for the Hungry every year. When you plan and plant your garden in the spring, just add one more row. When you harvest your crop, donate that row’s bounty to LIR. Imagine what a difference fresh fruits and vegetables make to someone who is hungry!

The Plant A Row program this summer has been "thriving"! So far, the program has donated 2 TONS of fresh fruit and vegetables.