Media Contact: 

Anna Slaten, Director of Development and Outreach 

aslaten@foodforothers.org 

240-751-7091 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Food for Others adds over 10,000 square feet to facility to introduce the power of choice to Northern Virginian residents experiencing food insecurity. 

New space offers a grocery store-like shopping experience and wrap-around social services. 

FAIRFAX, VA (February 9th, 2023) – Food for Others, a regional food bank that distributed 3.7 million pounds of food to Northern Virginia residents in Fiscal Year 2022, today announced the grand opening of its expanded facility, adding 10,391 square feet of warehouse and office space to better serve Northern Virginia’s food insecure residents.  

The expanded space includes the new “My Market,” offering Food for Others’ clients a grocery store-like shopping experience. All clients eligible for emergency food assistance through USDA support or with a referral will have the opportunity to “shop” for the food that they will receive.  

The My Market space provides a dignified experience to select food best suited to the client’s lifestyle, personal preferences, and cultural needs. With the expanded space, Food for Others will also partner with community organizations to offer “wrap around” social services – like financial literacy coaching and nutritional education – that impact clients’ well-being.  

“With the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the impact of inflation, we experienced a 28% increase in the number of distributions in 2022 vs. the prior year,” said Annie Turner, Executive Director of Food for Others. “The face of hunger is continually changing, and we are seeing hundreds of new families who have never sought our help in the past. With this expansion, we can better deliver our services to a wider audience and decrease food waste. In addition, our community cares deeply about the well-being of its neighbors – our devoted volunteers and generous donors have made this expansion a reality.” 

The new space is also more accessible for clients with physical limitations through the ADA compliant ramp and will enable clients to leave more empowered through choice. 

About Food for Others: 

Since 1995, Food for Others has been committed to addressing food insecurity in Northern Virginia. In 2022 alone, the organization distributed 3.7 million pounds of food to 49,893 households across the region, providing free groceries, social services, and a safety net to its neighbors in need.