Alexandria Kids Collect 1,200 Pounds of Food for Charity

When school lets out for summer, thousands of Alexandria children lose access to the free meals that keep them nourished during the school year. This summer, kids at Bishop Ireton High School are making sure their neighbors don't go hungry.

Campers at the Alexandria high school gathered canned fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, and shelf-stable foods on Friday to donate to Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project. Last year, the students collected more than 1,200 pounds of food for the summer campaign.

The donations come at a critical time. Catholic Charities aims to collect 25,000 pounds of food every month this summer, but donations typically slow down when families travel and churches operate on lighter schedules.

"Right now, especially in the summertime, the need for food items that kids are able to eat since they're not in school getting free meals is going up," said James McCaskey, an outreach specialist with the food project.

The need is real in Alexandria. Eight percent of households in the city face food insecurity, and nearly half of those struggling families earn too much to qualify for government assistance but not enough to always put food on the table.

The Ripple Effect

The student-led food drive creates impact far beyond a single box truck of groceries. When young people learn early about community care, they carry those values forward. The campers are discovering that helping others feels good and that even kids can make a meaningful difference.

Their efforts also shine a light on summer hunger, a problem that affects families nationwide when school cafeterias close. By collecting foods that children can easily prepare themselves, like instant oatmeal and mac and cheese, the students are thinking practically about the families they're helping.

The food pantry at 4527A Eisenhower Avenue welcomes donations on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Community members can also contribute through the St. Lucy Food Project's Amazon wish list, making it easy for anyone to help stock the shelves.

These young campers prove that the smallest hands can carry the biggest hearts.