Giant helps the Annandale Mission Center feed families in need

Volunteers at the Annandale Mission Center on Heritage Drive presented a plaque to the Annandale Giant earlier this month in appreciation of the grocery store’s food donations.

The store donated more than 91,600 pounds of food to the Mission Center in the past 12 months, reports Dana Goward, chair of the center’s board of directors.

The Mission Center, located in a former church building at 7901 Heritage Drive, is a non-evangelical outreach program of Annandale United Methodist Church. It is staffed by volunteers from many churches and organizations.

The center distributes groceries to about 350 Annandale residents every Thursday, 4-6:30 p.m. The food is donated by individuals, nonprofits, farmers’ markets, and food banks, as well as grocery stores. Recipients must present a utility bill, driver’s license, or other evidence that they live in the 22003 zip code.

The Mission Center also distributes infant diapers, feminine hygiene products, children’s clothing, and adult diapers once a month on alternate Thursdays. And it hosts English as a second language classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while providing childcare.

In addition, the Mission Center houses the Janet Petty Children’s Wellness Clinic, offering free medical and dental screenings to eligible neighborhood children. The clinic is funded and staffed by the Medical Care for Children Partnership.

The newest initiative at the Mission Center is a community garden developed by volunteers from Hands On Harvests.

In the past 12 months, the Mission Center distributed more than 37,000 bags of food to over 18,312 households, gave out 36,000 diapers, provided children’s clothes to 420 families, and welcomed 400 visitors to the clinic.