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Community Corner

"Share Sunday" at UCM: Help Fill the Food Pantry!

Do you know that 1 in 4 children in Fairfax County are on free or reduced lunch -- a key indicator of poverty?  Do you realize that each week, hundreds of struggling families and individuals living here in our local community visit and depend on the client-choice Food Pantry operated by United Community Ministries (UCM)?

You can help keep UCM's pantry shelves filled for our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet.  Each month for the convenience of busy community members, UCM is open on the first Sunday morning from 9 am to Noon to accept community food donations for its Food Pantry. (The exception is holiday weekends when it is the 2nd Sunday.)

Donations can be brought to the main UCM office at 7511 Fordson Rd., Alexandria. (Drive around the back to the food pantry door at the left side of the building.)

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New!  Shop online at UCM's Amazon.com Food Pantry Wish ListSimply make your selection from the choices there of most-needed food pantry items that we've pre-selected and use your credit card.  Your order will automatically ship direct to Jose Fratti, our Food Pantry Manager  -- including free shipping on orders of $25+. Click here to start shopping for UCM's families!

Click here to learn more about UCM's Food Pantry and the need in our community, including tips on how to organize a food drive.  Canned meat and fish are greatly needed, as well as pasta, tomato sauce, cereal, dried milk, and canned soups, fruits, and vegetables and other non-perishable items. To download the list of the most-needed items, visit: www.ucmagency.org/FoodPantryWishList.html

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UCM's Food Pantry depends on community donations to be able to provide food to hungry individuals and families. On an average weekday, 80 - 100 households visit the Pantry to select groceries for their family. Last year, UCM distributed nearly 630,000 pounds of food to more than 7,700 people in need (unduplicated individuals).

Donations are also accepted every weekday from 9 am to 5:30 pm at the Fordson Rd. location.

Thanks for caring!

Learn more about UCM programs, how you can help including volunteer opportunities at www.ucmagency.org.  To watch our video, click here.

Follow UCM at facebook!  www.facebook.com/UCM.Alexandria

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