Lifting Up Local Students

On Saturday, March 9th, the German Armed Forces Command joined Food For Neighbors for its fourth Red Bag food and toiletry collection and sorting event of the 2023-2024 school year. In addition to helping to sort nearly 3,400 pounds of donations arriving at Herndon Middle School, the Command also presented Food For Neighbors with a financial gift of more than $5,500. The generous funds help fight teen food insecurity in the nonprofit’s’ growing number of partnering schools in Northern Virginia.

“I feel honored and privileged to present this donation as our contribution to your outstanding and very important cause,” shared Colonel Joerg Dronia, Commander of the German Armed Forces Command, United States and Canada. “The funds were raised at the 2023 Christmas Market at our HQ here in Reston. The women and men serving there, nominated your charity organization as the prime recipient. I am more than pleased to follow their suggestion to support those in need.”

This is the second year that the German Armed Forces Command has included Food For Neighbors as a beneficiary of proceeds raised during the magical Christmas Market. The annual holiday celebration involves a tremendous amount of planning and physical effort, and the Command generously presents the family-friendly event for the whole community to enjoy.

Colonel Dronia continued, “It underpins that we feel ourselves as an integral part of this our local community. We are benefiting from it by living in this lovely and very convenient area and therefore we would like to give back to our community. I have to repeat what I said already last year: Although, we are far away from home, you all make us feel at home here in Reston.”

Food For Neighbors’ Founder and Executive Director, Karen Joseph, thanked Colonel Dronia and other attending Command members for the steadfast support.

“Our wonderful Food For Neighbors volunteers and I are thrilled to receive yet another generous donation from the German Armed Forces Command,” shared Joseph. “We’re currently helping over 7,500 students in 47 schools, and we couldn’t do this without our wonderful partners. In addition to representing one of our greatest NATO allies, the German Armed Forces Command is an excellent example of what it means to be a good neighbor. We are one of many organizations that have benefited from their giving spirit, and we thank them for all that they do to help our most vulnerable community members.”

Joseph also thanked several local leaders and school representatives who joined volunteers Saturday. These included Town of Herndon Mayor Sheila Olem, Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman and staff member Jenny Phipps, Dranesville District School Board Representative Robyn Lady, Herndon Middle School (HMS) Principal Monika Vereb, and HMS Family Liaison Fanny Salazar-Laske.

Like many of Food For Neighbors’ school partners, HMS has a high percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced price meals. As of October 31, 2023, that number is nearly 65% (2023-2024 Free and Reduced Price Eligibility Report – School Level, Office of School Nutrition Programs, VDOE, 31 January 2024.).

When asked earlier about the need, HMS Family Liaison Salazar-Laske shared, “When the students share their stories, I choke back my tears because I want to be able to listen fully. Our students don’t need fancy shoes. They need food and love. By coming together over food, we create a community.”

Community is also what makes Food For Neighbors’ work possible. By the conclusion of the morning, volunteers across Fairfax, Loudoun, and Arlington counties had collected, sorted, and/or delivered for 47 partnering schools over 26,500 pounds of food and toiletries to help students grow and learn. Food For Neighbors invites local residents, organizations, and businesses to help to continue to make a difference. Individuals may sign up to donate food/toiletries and to volunteer by visiting the website's get involved page. Organizations and businesses interested in learning about financial partnerships and team-building service opportunities may visit the website’s partner page and contact Renee Maxwell, [email protected]. Hunger Is Closer Than You Think.