Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM), the anchor, community-based, human services nonprofit organization in Region 4 of Fairfax County provides food and financial support to families at risk of hunger and homelessness in 9 zip codes of western Fairfax County (Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Oak Hill, and Herndon). Primary programs include two client-choice Free Food Markets, 15 satellite site refrigerators, Emergency Housing Financial Services Program (assisting with rent, mortgage, and utility bills), and our Pathways to Success upward mobility initiative. WFCM serves an average of 700 families/month, more than 4,000 individuals last fiscal year. 

 WFCM has maintained and expanded operations, scaling to meet the needs in our community, for 38 years, growing from an all-volunteer organization to a staffed organization of 14 offering services in 3 languages with help from 110 weekly scheduled volunteers. We have a renovated Chantilly Free Food Market with 13 refrigerators and freezers stocked with fresh food for clients to choose their own food, a second Free Food Market in Centreville that opened in June 2023 with 6 refrigerators and freezers, two walk-in coolers and one walk-in freezer for food storage, and a warehouse located on the same block as our Chantilly Food Market for additional food and diaper storage. WFCM also serves as an Emergency Hub for the Greater DC Diaper Bank. In 2021 we implemented a satellite refrigerator program and currently maintain 15 Free Food Fridge (FFF) satellite locations in public schools and partner nonprofits. We own two commercial vans (one is refrigerated) to deliver/distribute food to the communities where clients are located. Most recently, WFCM has implemented a home delivery program in partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) and Door Dash. WFCM serves as a CAFB Produce Hub, distributing produce to multiple organizations in the community.

 WFCM also provides connections for county/state/federal services such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and offers supplemental compassion services including a laundry ministry, nutrition classes, and connections to clothing, birthday cakes, financial and ESOL classes, and health/vaccination clinics, to name a few.  

 We work in partnership with Fairfax County Government and several local non-profits, businesses, and congregations as part of a collective impact model to ensure families in western Fairfax County remain housed and fed with the goal of financial and food security. WFCM clients generally earn no more than 250% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG) ($80,375 for a family of four in 2025) and need assistance with the essential provisions of food and shelter. WFCM provides critical support for these individuals and families, 55% of whom earn no more than 100% of the FPIG or below ($32,150 for a family of four in 2025). WFCM serves all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, citizenship status, physical/mental health, or religious belief.

 he families we serve may be experiencing a one-time crisis due to temporary unemployment or live in perpetual poverty due to any number of obstacles and challenges to earning a living wage. While some clients receive Supplemental Security Income (due to a disability) or live on Social Security Income that is at a level below 250% of FPIG and remain in poverty long term, many work in fields such as food services, janitorial/cleaning services, transportation, retail or landscaping. 

 Reduced wages and increased costs are impacting the ability of our clients to meet their rent and utility bills without assistance. The families we serve are facing tough decisions regarding which bills to pay and which to let lapse while struggling to buy groceries. They should not have to choose between paying a bill and feeding a child. Housing and food security are critical for families to be able to focus on success in other areas of their lives such as education and career. 

 The needs remain high. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2025, WFCM was able to serve 1,364 unduplicated families providing 4,226 individuals with $404,319 in rent and utility assistance to remain safely housed and 1.39M lbs. of groceries via our Free Food Markets to reduce food insecurity. We served, on average, 704 families each month in the Free Food Markets, including 217, on average, in the Centreville Free Food Market. We also provided 60,929 lbs. of groceries to students and families via our 15 Free Food Fridge satellite site refrigerators serving 700 students at 12 Fairfax County Public Schools and families at three nonprofit partner locations. In total, we were able to provide 1.45 million lbs. of groceries for community members.

This work requires collaboration and support from local businesses, congregations, organizations, and individual partners.  

Thank you for supporting the work of WFCM through this online fundraiser.