Release Date: Nov 24, 2021

AFAC 22202 Community Food Drive Garners More Than 5,000 lbs. in Donations Across National Landing Ahead of Thanksgiving Holiday

In the Spirit of Giving, the National Landing BID, Livability22202 Civic Associations and Sustainable Scoop Partnered to Organize a Thanksgiving Food Drive for Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)

ARLINGTON, VA – [November 24, 2021] –- Running since November 1st , with 21 donation locations across the National Landing region, approximately 5,390lbs of goods were collected in just three weeks for Arlington Food Food Assistance Center’s (AFAC) Thanksgiving food drive. Box drop off sites were set up at multi-family buildings, private residence spaces, and businesses across the area to garner substantial contributions of dry and canned goods. In addition, weekly scheduled collection services were held at multiple locations.

“We are elated that the National Landing community graciously contributed to a fundamental service for their neighbors this Thanksgiving in an effort to help battle food insecurity across our area, directly aligning with the BID’s core values of equity and sustainability. With support of residents, volunteers, and partners, we were able to collect an abundance of donations providing an optimistic outlook for the holiday season,” said Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, President and Executive Director of the National Landing BID.

Along with Livability 22202 civic associations, Sustainable Scoop and National Landing BID partnered to bolster the community wide giving effort. Throughout the month of November, Amazon driver, Jose Solcruz, picked up large quantities from many participating buildings for delivery to AFAC; the Crystal City and Pentagon City Rotary Clubs organized collections at a local Giant; Phoenix Bikes led collections and deliveries at Melwood; Advent Lutheran Church and Melwood served as weekly collection sites; Military Childrens Six Foundation organized collections; and Burke & Herbert Bank combined food donation collections with a coat drive.

“We are thrilled to see this outpouring of support for one’s neighbor during this difficult time from all our wonderful donors, partners, and community members,” said Carol Fuller, President, Crystal City Civic Association.

The mission of AFAC is to feed community members in need by providing access to nutritious supplemental groceries for people living in Arlington, VA who cannot afford to purchase enough food to meet their basic needs. With thanks to this multi-generational community event, AFAC is able to head into a fruitful Thanksgiving serving those most in need.

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About National Landing Business Improvement District

The National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) is a public-private partnership established to promote and activate the area’s business, retail, restaurant and residential community through placemaking, public art, transportation, economic development, events, marketing and promotion. This dynamic, mixed-use urban center encompasses the vibrant Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard-Arlington neighborhoods, and includes more than 26,000 residents, nearly 12 million square feet of office space, approximately 5,500 hotel rooms and over 450 restaurants and shops. Already Virginia’s largest walkable downtown, National Landing is in the midst of an exciting transformation driven by billions of dollars in public and private investment that will deliver new and enhanced housing, offices, parks, transportation and infrastructure in the coming years. The National Landing BID is helping to steer this growth in ways that are sustainable and enhance the area’s diversity and livability. For more information, visit NationalLanding.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. ###