About Us

In our nation's capital area, many families are struggling to provide for basic needs like food and shelter. Unfortunately, many times, some cannot even afford that. Since 1995, Food for Others has been helping many of these families.

Food for Others is Northern Virginia’s primary safety net for those needing food when an emergency strikes, and for the growing number of working poor who are unable to make ends meet and need to supplement their inadequate food supplies.

Food for Others obtains much of its food through food rescue operations and food drives. Staff and volunteers pick up good food that would be thrown away from local grocery stores and other retail food establishments. The food is brought to the warehouse for temporary storage, including refrigeration as appropriate. Food drives provide most of our non-perishable food.

Our Mission is to obtain and distribute free food to the hungry of Northern Virginia and to support food programs of other community-based organizations. We provide a channel for people to volunteer their services  to help their neighbors in need.

Local merchants, the USDA, food drives, and crop harvests provide the food; volunteers and staff provide the hands; and charitable contributions and fundraising events provide the funds. Charitable contributions provide a major part of Food for Others' budget. About 96 cents out of every revenue dollar is used for program expenses.