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The Arlington Food Assistance Center expects demand to climb again in 2026 after serving a record number of families last year, leaving the organization under growing financial and space pressures.

AFAC President and CEO Charles Meng said the pantry served an average of 4,200 families at its November 2025 peak and reached 5,898 unique families at one point—a record for the organization.

Inflation also drove up the cost of purchasing food for thousands of households. AFAC nevertheless continued serving every family that sought help, which Meng credited to a dedicated staff.

The strain is expected to persist in 2026 amid federal layoffs and new SNAP work requirements taking effect in January. Meng said donations have so far kept pace with the need, but the organization still faces a large funding gap.

Arlington County is providing $1.4 million this year, while AFAC expects its total operating costs to approach $11 million. In 2025, the pantry’s food spending exceeded its projected budget by $1.5 million.

Fear of immigration enforcement presents another challenge. Meng said AFAC does not consider a person’s immigration status when providing food and wants families to view the pantry as a safe place.

Although Meng said no ICE activity has been observed at the facility, some families remain worried. Two recent incidents on the block required police responses, and Meng said many people leave the food line when officers appear.

AFAC also plans to improve the quality of its food and expand the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables available.

Its most urgent concern, however, is space. The organization expects to receive, store and process about 6 million pounds of food this year and is already operating at capacity.

Meng said AFAC must determine whether it can secure a third building in Arlington or will need to expand outside the county to continue meeting demand.