Kalina  Leiling

Arlington, VA (2/28/13),  Walk 4 Hunger Press Release

While Arlington is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, there are still avoidable instances of food insecurity and hunger in our community. The economy is showing early signs of recovery, yet nearly 4,300 people - unemployed, underemployed, elderly and children—still turn to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) to access nutritious supplemental food. In fact, AFAC responded to more than 80,000 client visits last year, distributing 1.9 million pounds of food to our neighbors who can’t afford to feed themselves and their families. Arlington County has a hunger problem, and AFAC is getting creative when it comes to solving it.

 

AFAC's upcoming event “Walk 4 Hunger” features beautiful nature, some exercise, family time and community support. The 4 mile walk will take place on Saturday, March 23, at the Accotink Park in Springfield, Virginia at 10 am.

This walk is special because an AFAC volunteer who prefers to stay anonymous created it. He shares: “I see the children who come through the doors of AFAC. I see into their eyes, possibly more than most people do. But for many of them, I can see that the lights are nearly out.” This senior remembers that he was in these children’s shoes once. With limited or no food on the table while in tenth grade he almost dropped out of school. If it wasn’t for Arlington County that provided him with home teachers for almost a year, he couldn’t imagine being where he is now. Today, a member of MENSA, a former U.S. Marine and a retired federal employee, this generous man decides to give back to the community by organizing a charitable walk for AFAC.

 

AFAC Walk 4 Hunger is open to the public with tickets available online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/329092. Registration fee is $15. Sponsorships are accepted after requesting and filling out a donation form. Contact: Clare McIntyre (clare.mcintyre@afac.org).

 

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AFAC is an independent, community-based non-profit food pantry that provides dignified access to nutritious supplemental groceries to all our Arlington neighbors in need. At any one time AFAC has over 2,500 active referrals. Each family is given approximately 40 pounds of groceries each week. Over 500 elderly families now receive weekly food deliveries from AFAC.