STV’s team in Washington, D.C. and Fairfax, VA recently got together to support the Capital Area Food Bank, a Washington, D.C.-area nonprofit that provides meals to residents, while also offering educational program and service delivery partnerships to address the root causes of hunger in the region.
A team of 12 employees volunteered to organize 260 boxes of food that were then distributed to area residents facing food insecurity (primarily people who are age 60 and older).
STV’s involvement in the drive stemmed from the Fairfax office’s annual holiday food drive. Over the past few years, the office food drive had grown so much, “We required a larger vehicle to transport donations to the food bank,” said Alexander Joy, an architectural designer in Fairfax, who has led the drive. “With interest growing to do more to help, I discovered an opportunity to volunteer at the Capital Area Food Bank, assisting in sorting donations and packing boxes for direct delivery to those in need. I saw this as a great opportunity to bring co-workers and their families together to make a positive impact while having some fun.”
The D.C. Metro Area stands out as one of the wealthiest regions in the county, boasting an average median income of $93,547 according to the 2022 U.S. Census. However, despite this prosperity, 13% of the population faces poverty, and a substantial 30% deal with food insecurity, making it a pressing issue for the community.
In addition to helping the local community, STV’s team of volunteers also gained some valuable insights about the Food Bank and the role it plays in fighting food insecurity.
“During and since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in need in the area and the Food Bank helps address that,” said Patricia Macchi, STV’s national infrastructure practice leader. “Currently, 70% of the people who receive food are employed, but they still don’t make enough to get the food resources they need.”
Other STV volunteers included: Suresh Karre, Alfonso Ronca, Zohreh Javamardi, Mustapha Mwamba, Ann Antonis, Xiang Fang, Todd Curtis, Laura Jeffords, Rasib Majoid and Abdou Ndong.
