The Northern Virginia branch of the Capital Area Food Bank. Food banks are the center of food collection and distribution for poor people in a community. The Capital Area Food Bank that serves the Washington Metropolitan area operates a 48,000 square foot warehouse in Northeast Washington and a 16,000 square foot warehouse in Northern Virginia. More than 600 community organizations form the Capital Area Food Bank's network, which distributed 15 million pounds of food in 1998. Not only is food provided, but an organization that saves money on food can use its surplus cash to provide more services to its clients.
Many food banks provide other services.
They range from after school feeding programs, including Kids Cafe, to community agriculture projects. Capital Area Food Bank Child eating at a Washington, D.C. feeding program. The Capital Area Food Bank's Education department reaches thousands of Metro area residents each year in various capacities. In the aftermath of Welfare Reform, this is a desperately needed service throughout the entire Metro area. In the aftermath of welfare reform, food banks throughout the country are raising private funds to operate innovative programs and to feed those who are hungry.