AFAC’s End Summer Hunger Campaign

During the pandemic, AFAC met the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 head-on. When our community needed us most, we responded, ensuring that 2,500 Arlington families had continued access to nutritious groceries. Now, we are facing an even greater emergency.

Congress will soon pass legislation that will cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by more than $300 billion. At the same time, numerous Childhood Nutrition Programs will suffer similar, significant reductions. The impact of these cuts is heartbreaking: more families, more children, and more neighbors in need turning to AFAC.

Last year to meet the growing need, we distributed over 5.5 million pounds of free groceries, which required us to overspend our food budget by $1.2 million. Maintaining this level of service in the year ahead will be a challenge. We have started the new year with a budget deficit almost guaranteed, so meeting the inevitable surge in demand for food assistance will be very difficult without your support.

Last week, over 4,000 families came to AFAC for groceries. Among those families were 3,296 school aged children, who now face the added uncertainty of how they will receive the school-provided breakfast and lunch that they relied on throughout the school year.

As we all navigate the pressures of job cuts, tariffs, and economic uncertainty, it’s important to remember that those already in need are being hit the hardest. At AFAC, we remain committed to the belief that food is a basic human right and that families and children in Arlington should not have to wonder where their next meal will come from.

Thank you for your help and support,

Charlie Meng | Chief Executive Officer