Holiday Groceries

AFAC grocery services are available to residents of Arlington County every week of the year! During the holiday season, registered AFAC clients receive a holiday turkey or chicken in addition to the usual groceries.
Información en Español
Woman giving out food to families.
image of someone preparing a turkey

Holiday Turkeys & Chickens

In addition to the usual groceries, AFAC provides one whole turkey the week before Thanksgiving and one whole chicken the week before Christmas to each pre-registered Arlington family:

The week before Thanksgiving, November 18 - 23, 2024
AND the week before Christmas, December 16 - 21, 2024

Whole turkeys [12 - 14 pounds] and chickens [5 - 7 pounds] are distributed frozen.
Whole turkeys and chickens are not available for walk-ins without a referral.

How to Defrost & Prepare Whole Chicken

If you have a hard time affording groceries and would benefit from free weekly grocery services...

  • Go in person to the Department of Human Services, Customer Service Center
    2100 Washington Blvd., first floor, 22204
    Monday - Friday from 8:00AM - 5:00PM.
    For more information, call DHS at 703-228-1300.
  • If you are 60 or older, call the Dept. of Human Services, Arlington Area Agency on Aging at 703-228-1700, or
  • If you have a child at the Arlington Public Schools, call your school’s social worker.
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*All AFAC services require a referral, photo ID, and proof of residential address in Arlington.*

To view AFAC's weekly grocery menu or learn how to get a referral...

Click Here!
Exterior view of AFAC with van in front

Food Distribution Schedule at AFAC's Nelson Headquarters

2708 South Nelson Street

AFAC will be closed on:

  • Thanksgiving Day (Nov 28)
  • Christmas Day (Dec 25)
  • New Years Day (Jan 1)
Get Directions
For more information, call 571-290-6047.