Food & Friends, Inc.

I have been a strong supporter of Food and Friends and recently became a board member. I cannot say enough about this organization and it's people. I have personally seen the caring and loving way they deal with clients, always with the clients' interests put first. I trust each of them knowing that every penny contributed is put to the best use possible. This organization also appreciates its volunteers and shows it in many ways. Because of the Food and Friends culture, the staff is happy, the volunteers are happy and thus the clients are supported. Whenever I visit the facility, it is such an energizing experience.

I began volunteering about 13 years ago when I was depressed, feeling alone and in need of support. What I got was a new Family. A family that, not only works together to do a greatly needed service, but a family that accepts everyone that walks through the door to help as an equally important part of the organization. The kitchen staff are amazing to work with and have the patience of Job in handling the mistakes made by volunteers. Believe me when I say that Food and Friends has done far more for me than I have done for them, and knowing that I have a small part in serving the clients makes me very proud to be a part of such an organization.

When I was looking for an organization to “give back”, little did I know how much I would “get back” from Food & Friends. The mission of the organization and its long-standing service to the community is commendable. I shave been volunteering at F&F for 3 plus years. I enjoy the varied duties and the camaraderie of the volunteers. More so, the chefs and the staff are so appreciative . Nnot a shift goes by without a thank you -- or two or three -- for being there. How they coordinate supplies, meals, volunteers and deliveries is beyond me. I’ve volunteered at many places and can truly say this is one of the more rewarding experiences.

In lieu of purchasing Christmas gifts this past year, our extended family honored each other by contributing or volunteering to a charity. My husband and I pursued volunteering in the District of Columbia. We had heard from a number of venues, including from the original church (basement) where it all began in the 1980s, that the Food and Friends Organization is a remarkable and longtime achievement. We attended the interesting and thorough orientation, and began as soon as we could - right after the holidays. We have found it a remarkable place to contribute a few evening hours each week. We have been packaging and preparing nutritious food that will make up thousands of meals for those in the area who have serious illnesses. The site where we work is very beautiful. The time flies by and we are grateful to have shared the evening with other volunteers. We have also really appreciated the thoughtful, organized, and enjoyable chefs who assure that the volunteers can contribute to the mission meaningfully. We dip and scoop soups and salads into personal packages. We chop vegetables and bag foods for proper storage. This is all managed very conscientiously with the clients in mind. What a wonderful gift this has been. Thank you, Food and Friends!

1 day while I was on facebook I noticed 1 of my friends had commented about her volunteer work 4 this org so I inquired because I 2 wanted 2 do some volunteer work, well that was almost 9 months ago. ppl know that if they need me on sat morning that they have 2 wait til I am done with my delivering of meals 2 what I now call "my families". I have come across a lot of ppl in doing this who some have said that if it were not 4 Food & Friends then they would have no meals or any contact with ppl bcuz their families have turned their backs on them. this is a wonderful org w/wonderful ppl who it is obvious how much they care about helping out others. I am very blessed & believe in blessings others & giving back 2 others less fortunate. thumbs up 2 F&F!

I try to make it to Food & Friends on Wednesday mornings at 5:30 AM and Thursday evenings at 6 PM. I, volunteer for this Organization not only for the invaluable mission and vision; but also, the Organization has so many wonderful people working and volunteering there. You never know who may be standing next to you packing bags, stirring soup, sweeeping the floor, taking out the garbage and/or slicing onions. That person could be the owner of an international hotel chain, consulting firm, food distributor, principal of the local school or President of the United States of America. All that said let us remember the name really says it all Food & Friends, nothing else need to be said. Charles Talley

I have been delivering meals for Food & Friends for over 10 years: first in Washington DC and now in Falls Church VA. Their commitment to the entire organization is built around trust, respect and doing the right thing. I am proud to be a part of their organization and it saddens me that Food & Friends has to exist...I am sure their goal would be to defeat all the cancers/AIDS/illnesses that require people to need them. In the meantime, they are an amazing organization and as long as I'm around, I will continue to do my small part.

I've been volunteering at Food & Friends for nearly 5 years now. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning I arrive at 6 am and join my fellow morning people for a few hours in a ritual of making food, portioning, and packaging it for delivery to clients.

Even after doing this good work for so long (and there are many, many who have been doing it for longer than I have), I am amazed at how much food comes into and goes out of the facility. I'm there when deliveries are made by the suppliers, and I watch and help the raw ingredients turn into delicious, nutritious, life-saving and -affirming meals. It's an amazing choreography of racks and pans, refrigerators and ovens, utensils and packaging, and the people who add their touch and move it all to the next step in the process.

When I'm baking, I often joke that the "extra ingredient is love." But it's true--you can't do this work without it. I've done plenty of volunteer work over the years, but I've never seen such a well-run and purposeful organization as Food & Friends is. When I volunteer there, I know that what I'm doing has a direct, positive impact on real people who depend on the food deliveries.

There's are many reasons that so many people give their time and money to Food & Friends. For me, it gives me an opportunity to give back to my community in a tangible way.

I started to volunteer at Food & Friends as part of a monthly organizational function. But when I saw what wonderful work they did and what caring individuals they all were, I decided to volunteer on my own. I couldn't recommend a more worthwhile charity.