Working Together to Tackle Teen Hunger

What happens when you combine inspiration and muscle to help the local community? You make a big difference! That’s exactly what CrossFit Fairfax, CrossFit Reston, and No Child Goes Hungry accomplished in their recent service project in support of Food For Neighbors.

The brainchild of Rev. Kären Rasmussen, Founder and Director of No Child Goes Hungry, the project involved collecting food and toiletry donations and raising funds, all in support of Food For Neighbors’ efforts to tackle teen food insecurity in Northern Virginia. Rev. Rasmussen inspired her CrossFit Fairfax friends to join the effort, and, in turn, CrossFit Fairfax energized CrossFit Reston. No Child Goes Hungry, a nonprofit working with organizations in 33 states and DC to eliminate childhood hunger, provided a generous match to donations made, and the fundraiser well surpassed its original goal. The result was over $9,400 in funding and more than 100 lbs of food and toiletries.

“CrossFitters come from all walks of life,” shared Rev. Rasmussen. “We come together to work out, support each other, and help the community. Raising funds for local students seemed like a natural thing for us to do, and we were very happy to partner with Food For Neighbors.”

Karen Joseph, Executive Director of Food For Neighbors, was thrilled to have support for the local, grassroots nonprofit that she founded over seven years ago. “We could not help all of the students we do without the support of local businesses and organizations like No Child Goes Hungry, CrossFit Fairfax, and CrossFit Reston,” noted Joseph. “We all can get behind the importance of making sure students have reliable food sources so they can grow and learn.”

Food For Neighbors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to end child hunger in Northern Virginia. Focusing on the otherwise underserved teen population, the nonprofit raises awareness, engages and mobilizes communities, and partners with local secondary schools to connect vital food and toiletry resources with vulnerable students. Food For Neighbors is currently partnering with 47 public secondary schools in Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties to reach over 7,500 vulnerable students, most of whom receive some type of support on at least a weekly basis. School staff variously share that the supplemental nutrition helps many students attend school more regularly and focus better on their studies, with some even improving their grades. This helps students reach their full potential, which lifts up the community as a whole.

“CrossFit Fairfax appreciates being able to make a difference for local students,” noted the business’ Head Coach, Julie Furneisen. “CrossFitters can always get behind a good cause, and Food For Neighbors made it so easy for us to organize our fundraiser.”

Samrina Islam, the new owner of both CrossFit Fairfax and CrossFit Reston, also emphasized the importance of supporting the local community. “When the idea was presented to partner with No Child Goes Hungry to run a fundraiser for Food For Neighbors within our CrossFit community, it just made sense. We had already been participating in the Food For Neighbors Red Bag Program and believed in their mission.” She added, “CrossFit is about community. We work together, support each other, and care for each other. It is important to extend this support to our neighboring communities. Our members from both CrossFit Reston and Crossfit Fairfax came together and truly made a difference, with monetary and food donations.”

Food For Neighbors is inspired by the energy and enthusiasm businesses have for helping communities where their employees and customers work and live. Sometimes, however, the businesses don’t know where to start. Food For Neighbors makes it easy by providing various team-building service opportunities. These include:

• Receiving and sorting donations collected during massive Red Bag food and toiletry collection events,

• Sponsoring a Red Bag Event,

• Holding food and toiletry drives,

• Preparing weekend food packs,

• Serving as matching donors during fundraising campaigns, and

• Holding their own fundraisers, just like No Child Goes Hungry, CrossFit Fairfax, and CrossFit Reston did so successfully.

Food For Neighbors works with each group to make sure they have the information, materials, and support they need for a successful, meaningful, and fun service experience.

It’s easy to make a difference with Food For Neighbors. To learn more, contact Renee Maxwell, Director of Development, at [email protected].