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Food pantries in Lorton and Springfield are serving growing numbers of families as higher grocery costs and a prolonged federal government shutdown intensify financial pressure across the region.
In November, lines lengthened outside the food pantry at Sydenstricker United Methodist Church on Sydenstricker Road. Demand also climbed at the Lorton Community Action Center, where more than 300 families were receiving food each week.
Both pantries have kept their shelves stocked through grants, purchases and community donations. But those running the programs are questioning how long current levels of funding and volunteer support can continue.
Lorton pantry reports 21 percent increase
Lorton Community Action Center Executive Director Rob Rutland-Brown estimated that pantry use rose 21 percent in October compared with previous months. The weekly total of more than 300 families represented a sharp increase from the prior year.
Rutland-Brown said rising grocery prices are leaving families with less purchasing power. Higher costs for meat, fresh produce and other nutritious foods are bringing more people to the pantry.
Food comes from three main sources. Volunteers regularly collect donations from local grocery stores, while churches, businesses, schools, Scout troops and individuals contribute additional supplies. The pantry also purchases food—primarily meat, vegetables and dairy products—through its annual budget.
That budget is supported by Fairfax County, foundations, businesses and individual donors. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the pantry has benefited from a $125,000 annual grant. It also receives $35,000 each year from Fairfax County.
The pantry collects little personal information from visitors, but Rutland-Brown estimated that roughly half are immigrant families. He has also seen growing numbers of active-duty military members, veterans and seniors seeking help. Some older residents require home delivery.
About 400 volunteers support the pantry’s staff. They collect groceries, sort products, stock shelves, help visitors select food and deliver supplies to people who cannot leave home.
Burke resident Tom Cohen regularly picks up donations from an assigned Giant store with his two children. He recalled a store employee explaining that he had once struggled to establish himself and understood the pantry’s importance.
“This makes a difference in these people’s lives,” the employee said, adding that the pantry had kept many families alive.
Springfield church faces volunteer shortage
Sydenstricker United Methodist Church has distributed food twice a month for years through a partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank. It also operates a sandwich ministry benefiting So Others Might Eat.
The church pantry has helped about 200 families this year, while the line of waiting vehicles has continued to grow. Pastor Don Jamison said that on some recent Tuesday and Thursday distribution days, cars began arriving at 9:30 a.m.—six hours before the 3:30 p.m. opening.
Some families travel from Maryland, and many are Hispanic. Jamison believes visitors tell friends about the pantry, which offers fresh produce, meat and dairy products in addition to canned goods and packaged staples.
The church obtains food from three Giant stores and an Aldi. Its partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank allows it to make purchases at substantially reduced prices. All distributed food remains within recommended use dates.
Jamison said grocery stores often replace existing products when new truckloads arrive with merchandise designated for particular shelves. The displaced food can then become available at a lower price. The church also receives produce from Rising Hope Mission, an Alexandria outreach kitchen and pantry.
Although the church has food and funding, it is losing the volunteer capacity needed to maintain its current service. Many longtime church members and volunteers are seniors who can no longer continue the work.
As a result, the pantry expects to limit eligibility to families living in ZIP codes within a 10-mile radius. It also plans to shift from serving vehicles lined up on distribution days to assisting families by appointment.
The church’s sandwich ministry will continue, and additional volunteers are welcome.
Both pantries accept donations at their locations and online. Their managers remain concerned about whether funding can keep pace with demand, whether the federal government will remain open beyond the next budget deadline and whether falling prices might eventually bring families some relief.