Capital Area Food Bank

We’re working every day to help ensure families across the Greater Washington region have the good food they need to thrive.   If you’re looking to make an impact alongside a passionate, dedicated team, we’re hiring!   Explore roles and learn more about our work: https://lnkd.in/einQdp7W 

We were thrilled to be on the field at an electric Washington Spirit quarterfinal and are looking forward to cheering the team on as they compete in the semifinals tomorrow.   While we were there, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield presented a generous donation that will help us expand food distributions across our partner network. This support will allow us to provide more fresh produce and shelf-stable pantry items to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity across the region.   We’re grateful for CareFirst’s commitment to community health and for their partnership in helping ensure our neighbors have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.

“I’ve worked with people experiencing food insecurity my whole adult career, but the one part they never teach you is when to ask for help yourself”    Many federal workers and contractors, like Kathryn, never imagined they’d be in this situation. Standing beside her car, trunk open and filled with boxes of produce, bread, and pantry staples, she told us she was surprised by how much food she received and deeply grateful for the help.   By teaming up with our nonprofit partners across the region, we’ve been distributing food weekly since October, reaching hundreds of federal workers each week. For Kathryn, who’s spent her career helping others, asking for help herself wasn’t easy, but it has been meaningful to feel others step up in solidarity. “It’s very touching to see the community coming together to support us,” she said.   We’re proud to be part of that network of care.   If you need food assistance, go to https://lnkd.in/e2_GacPb to find a distribution site near you.

Almost 20% of food-insecure households in our region include a veteran or someone currently in the military, highlighting the importance of making nutritious food accessible to those who have dedicated themselves to service.   Each month, our mobile markets at Fort Belvoir, Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling, and the VA Medical Center, along with our partnership with Soldiers’ Angels, reach more than 800 military families. Across all our direct distribution sites, we provide food to roughly 2,400 veterans, helping ensure they and their families have what they need to thrive.   This Veterans Day, we were honored to host a special mobile market at JBAB, bringing fresh produce, pantry staples, and community connection. Supporting veterans and active military members by providing access to good food is one way we can give back to those who have given so much to us.

We were thrilled to join public health leaders from across the country at this year’s American Public Health Association Conference to highlight the Capital Area Food Bank’s Food Is Medicine work.   Susan Topping and Jazarah Shim presented posters showcasing how access to nutritious food can improve health outcomes — including initial findings from our clinical study with Children’s National Hospital’s diabetes clinic, which explores how medically supportive grocery deliveries can benefit food-insecure youth managing diabetes.   They also shared insights on using survey data to enhance food pharmacy programming, helping us better meet patients’ needs and strengthen program impact.   In addition, Haley Demyanovich from the University of Maryland Medical System highlighted our collaboration to support maternal health through food pharmacy interventions that promote healthier pregnancies and improved outcomes.   We’re proud of our team and partners for advancing this important work and grateful for the opportunity to share our findings at APHA.

Good food = good health. We know the connection between the two—which is why we continue to grow our Food is Medicine work, bringing nutritious food directly into healthcare settings. We recently celebrated the opening of a new food pharmacy at Unity Health Care’s Anacostia Health Center, our second in partnership with Unity.   Made possible through the generous support of the The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, this new location provides older adults managing chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity with access to nutritious, medically tailored food.   Fridges are filled with fresh produce and healthy staples, and patients can also pick up recipe cards and produce guides to help them make the most of what they receive.   Read more about the new opening and the impact of our Food is Medicine work: https://lnkd.in/exttptsm

We’re grateful for our partnership with Enterprise which helps us meet the need across our community 💚 Their incredible $270,000 donation supports our efforts to provide food and resources to neighbors throughout the region. Part of that support made it possible to wrap our shuttle bus, which transports staff and volunteers to and from the food bank. Fittingly, our friends at Enterprise know a thing or two about keeping vehicles looking their best! And they don’t just give, they show up. Enterprise team members have already contributed over 315 volunteer hours this year, always bringing energy and a willingness to help wherever needed. Partners like this make a lasting impact through both their giving and their hands-on support!

We kicked off our additional food distributions this week for federal employees and contractors impacted by the ongoing government shutdown and have already seen significant turnout across our sites. We’re here to support our community and will continue to work to meet the need for the duration of the shutdown. Please note that locations and times may change, so check https://lnkd.in/ewi5wgqd for the latest updates. Each site provides boxes of shelf-stable pantry items and fresh produce while supplies last. 📄 Federal employees and contractors must show a government work ID to receive food. Current locations and times (subject to change): 📍Tuesdays 12:00–2:00 PM | No Limits Outreach Ministries: 7721 Barlowe Rd, Hyattsville, MD 20785 📍Wednesdays (UPDATED ADDRESS) 10am – 12pm | Seneca Creek Community Church: 13 Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 MD 20852 📍Fridays 11:00 AM–1:00 PM | United Community: 7511 Fordson Rd, Alexandria, VA 22306 11:00 AM–1:30 PM | Urban Outreach: 5343 C St SE, Washington, DC 20019 📍Saturdays 1:00–2:30 PM | LindaBen Foundation: 10739 Tucker St, Beltsville, MD 20705 For additional food assistance options across our partner network, visit https://lnkd.in/ewi5wgqd or call our Hunger Lifeline at (202) 644-9807.

Every student deserves the chance to learn, and graduate without wondering where their next meal will come from. Yet food insecurity continues to challenge college students across the region, impacting their ability to focus and succeed. That’s why we convened higher education leaders, students, and policy experts at the 2025 Regional College Hunger Conference, cohosted by Prince George's Community College and Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Throughout the day, attendees heard directly from students who have turned to their campus pantries and food support services to stay on track toward graduation, as well as from administrators sharing how their institutions are adapting to meet growing needs. Panels explored the current policy climate and how shifts in funding and priorities may affect the future of student support programs. Across every conversation, one message was clear: meeting students’ basic needs is essential to helping them reach their goals and contribute to the region’s economic vitality. As one student shared, “Food should be a right, not a privilege. We need it to be able to learn effectively.” Special thanks to Amazon Fresh and Atlantic Union Bank for their generous sponsorship of this year’s conference. With continued collaboration, we can help ensure that every student has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.

To support those impacted by the ongoing government shutdown, we’re partnering with our network of nonprofit partners to offer free food distributions for federal workers and contractors. Food insecurity remains high across the region, and a missed paycheck can make it even harder for families to get by. These additional distributions will help bridge the gap by providing boxes of shelf-stable pantry items and fresh produce until the government re-opens. 🗓️ Starting the week of Oct. 20 (Federal employees and contractors will need to show a government work ID to receive food.) Locations and times: 📍Tuesdays 12:00–2:00 PM | No Limits Outreach Ministries: 7721 Barlowe Rd, Hyattsville, MD 20785 📍Wednesdays (UPDATED ADDRESS) 10:00–11:30 AM | So What Else: 6001 Executive Blvd, North Bethesda, MD 20852 📍Fridays 11:00 AM–1:00 PM | United Community: 7511 Fordson Rd, Alexandria, VA 22306 11:00 AM–1:30 PM | Urban Outreach: 5343 C St SE, Washington, DC 20019 📍Saturdays 1:00–2:30 PM | LindaBen Foundation: 10739 Tucker St, Beltsville, MD 20705 For more information on these distributions, visit https://lnkd.in/ewi5wgqd. Anyone in need of food assistance can visit https://lnkd.in/eRx2w2rq or call our Hunger Lifeline at (202) 644-9807.