What We Do
There are 3 weekly food distributions: martes in VA, jueves in MD and sábado in DC. Each distribución is adaptive, dynamic and applies an eco-lens to reduce our footprint.
Our español-speaking hermana Facebook page Justicia Alimentaria communicates real time info about other food, rent supports, pro-bono legal info, vaccinations, easy ways to save the planet, exercise tips, recipes and more. It is created in tandem with impacted community members.
Resource coaches speak to families who have needs for support that are mysteries they have not been able to solve. Coaches convey current info on everything from vaccinations, rent supports, food ‘grab and go’s’ to electric bills, health insurance and more. We recognized early on that food was but one of the many difficult challenges families may face. We did not want to be a ‘one and done’ when we were asked for support.
When there is breaking news that impacts the immigrant community we act! Hyper-local & broadcast texts urgently go out to everyone on our list (12,000 May, 2024). Life-sustaining info about dólares that personas who are undocumented can receive, rent-strike or immigrant justice protests, food oportunidades y más.
Along with food requests for clothes and furniture frequently come in and cannot be ignored. Many times we deliver mattresses with frijoles and participate in the circular economy with large and small gently loved furniture deliveries! The deliveries are a planet-saving, wealth-transfer of shiny home goods and clothes that people donate. One time we even collected 15 newborn car seats when a father could not bring his baby home from the hospital! Another time 50 repurposed window AC units and fans were part of a fight back to a landlord who would not repair the building’s units.
The families encompass a beautiful and inspiring mix of who built and make this country strong: Black, Brown, Muslim, Ethiopian, Latinx, Haitan, Nigerian, people of all hues.
Hear from our Founder & Director, Denise Woods in her interview with Catherine Read of Inside Scoop TV to learn more about Food Justice DMV’s impact in the community…
We receive thousands of requests from parents who just want to feed their children, have diapers and give milk to their babies…
In each individual contact we ask:
When do you run out of food?
Do you have any babies? How many are in your family?
Are you able to get to the store?
Do you need diapers, formula, sanitary pads, OTC meds or masks?
57% of the 11,000+ families ask for diapers — cost of a pack of diapers and wipes is $9.
Sometimes we wonder if we have enough money to pay for the thousands of diapers each week.
