Making a Difference in our Community!

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that 49.1 million Americans lived in “food insecure” households which is the official measurement of food deprivation in America. Food insecurity is defined as not having adequate or consistent food supply for an active, healthy life for all members of the household or a limited uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods throughout the year. Simply put, they are hungry or at-risk of hunger. Poverty and resources such as transportation are the leading causes of food insecurity. Unfortunately, people in the U.S. go hungry every day. 

One of the most affluent counties in the nation, Prince William County sees its residents face hunger every day. According to a study conducted by Feeding America, a national anti-hunger charity, there are some 28,650 residents in the county who are food insecure, with a little more than half this number that are children. In 2017, Feeding America - Map the Meal Gap estimated that in 2015, there were approximately 12,730 food insecure children in Prince William County. 

Research has shown that there are serious consequences for school children who face hunger including low test scores, weak attendance rates, and chronic diseases. Like many school districts, Prince William County offers free lunch to more than 26,000 qualified children (almost 31% of the school population) and another 8% of the county’s children qualify for lunch at a reduced rate during the school year. Unfortunately, during the summer months, many of these children lose that access to good, reliable food. According to a study conducted by the Capital Area Food Bank, Prince William County will see about 14,000 children go hungry during the summer months.  

With summer approaching, children preparing to enjoy their summer break, some Prince William County children will miss out on a meal they would have normally receive from the school’s meal program. For the 14,000 children in Prince William County not to go hungry over the summer months, the Prince William County Community Foundation (PWCCF) and the Prince William County Schools have partnered to help combat the food insecurity that exist in the county. Our Combating Hunger on Wheels – or C.H.O.W. Wagon meals-on-wheels program will bring nutritious meals to local neighborhoods throughout the summer so that no child goes hungry. We are demonstrating another opportunity for getting meals to where our children are.

The goal of the C.H.O.W. Initiative is to help eradicate hunger in the Prince William County area for minors ages 18 and under. We will strive to carry over the nutritious values established by the Prince William County School system and set up a haven for children to receive meals, up to two times a day during the summer months (June-August).