his is the Art for the Sky photo created last year. Photo Courtesy of Daniel Dancer
September is Hunger Action Month, and Our Daily Bread (ODB) and Food for Others are trying to help. They’re seeking community members to form teams, gather food items and come to the Complete the Circle FoodRaiser on Sunday, Nov. 9, from 1-2:30 p.m., on Fairfax High’s practice field.
Participants will create an Art for the Sky picture to be photographed from high in the air by artist Daniel Dancer. Comprising the photo’s perimeter will be the food and pantry donations brought that day. There’ll also be music, food and entertainment for children.
The event will be held, rain or shine. Participants are encouraged to bring a food-pantry item or grocery gift card. Some of the greatest needs are canned meat, chili, pasta and fruit; dinner kits with meat; laundry detergent; toiletry items and household cleaning products.
“We had about 800 participants last year and raised 5,700 pounds of food, said ODB spokeswoman Heather Webb. “Our goal for this year is 1,000 participants and 10,000 pounds of food.”
All donations collected will be used to feed hungry people in the local area. According to Feeding America, 73,000 people in Fairfax County don’t know, on any given day, if they’ll have food to eat – not just enough to eat, but anything, at all.
Groups are encouraged to register their teams by Oct. 10 to be listed on the event t-shirt that will color the Art for the Sky photo. Individuals and families may also register. Walk-ins are welcome, but early registration will help reserve participants’ t-shirts.
To register, go to http://www.CompletetheCircleFX.org. For more information, contact info@ODBFairfax.org or call 703-273-8829.
“It’s incredible to think that, in the wealthy Fairfax County area, there are 73,000 people who don’t know where their next meal will come from,” said Our Daily Bread Executive Director Lisa Whetzel. “Many of them are children, and it’s heartbreaking to think of how their parents must feel when they work so hard to make ends meet, but have to put their kids to bed with empty stomachs.”
“Participating in Complete the Circle is a joyful way for community members to come together to be part of the solution to the very real problem of hunger and need in our midst,” she continued. “We welcome community members to join us that day and to start planning now to make the event even more meaningful by putting together a team of family, friends, coworkers or group members to participate and running a grocery cart or food drive to help ‘Complete the Circle’ of giving and sharing.”
Agreeing, Food for Others Executive Director Roxanne Rice said, “We’re excited to partner for the second year with Our Daily Bread on this stellar FoodRaiser. This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals to volunteer their time and, through a small donation, help lift up those in our community who are in need.”