Three non-profits are receiving financial support to help federal government workers.
Action in the Community Through Service (ACTS) in Dumfries, the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry (HRFP), and Northern Virginia Family Service’s (NVFS) SERVE shelter in Manassas are each receiving $10,000 from Prince William County.
The Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) recently approved the funding, which is coming from the emergency reserve, according to a release from the county.
“We cannot backstop the federal government, but when this many families are suffering, we have to try to help meet their basic needs if we can,” BOCS Chairman Corey Stewart said.
HRFP plans to use the funding to offer markets for government workers at the commuter lot located behind Gainesville United Methodist Church.
Those with a government or contractor ID may participate in the markets, which run from Noon to 2 p.m. on January 26 and February 2, according to Executive Director Eileen Smith.
“We have all sorts of produce, hygiene items, we have shelf-stable food, and we have meat. These folks usually aren’t our customers, so we’re doing an event just for them,” Smith said in a release.
The $10,000 is helping ACTS fill gaps in their food supplies.
“It allows us to go out and get the dairy and eggs that we normally wouldn’t be able to get and more of the fresh produce we like to get from the Capital Area Food Bank,” ACTS CEO Steve Liga said in a release. It allows us to round out what we have to offer.”
