Stuff the Bus donation program will be in Annandale Feb. 14

Remember to pick up some extra food for Stuff the Bus when grocery shopping. [Fairfax County government]

Stuff the Bus: Helping Fairfax Families, the annual campaign to collect food donations for the needy, will be in Annandale Feb. 14.

A Fasttran bus will be in the Annandale Giant, 7137 Columbia Pike, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Residents are encouraged to drop off nonperishable items to help local food pantries restock after the holidays, a period when donations tend to reach the lowest point of the year.

Stuff the Bus is a collaborative program operated by Fairfax County government and its nonprofit partners. Donations dropped off in Annandale will benefit the food pantry run by Annandale Christian Community for Action.

ACCA needs volunteers for its food program, including “food captains” to help manage referrals from Fairfax County social workers and drivers to make deliveries in Annandale, Alexandria, and Bailey’s Crossroads. Contact ACCA if you’re interested in volunteering: [email protected].

ACCA volunteers made 122 deliveries in December, assisting 323 individuals, while also providing food for 26 Christmas baskets – with lots of help from its member churches and the Annandale Lions Club. The ACCA pantry is in particular need of small bags of rice, dried black beans, cereal, jelly, canned fruit, cookies, and crackers.

Stuff the Bus is collecting donations at 12 other locations throughout the county. The program started Jan. 17 and runs through Feb. 16.