Shoppers at three local Wegmans stores donated $15,257 to Food for Others during the grocery chain's annual hunger-relief campaign, money that arrives as summer break removes access to school meals for Northern Virginia children.
The donations came from customers at the Reston, Fairfax and Tysons Corner locations during the Fill the Bus/Fill the Backpack campaign, which ran June 3 through June 17. Shoppers scanned donation cards at checkout, with proceeds benefiting Food for Others.
Companywide, Wegmans customers raised a record $769,300 across all stores, topping the 2025 campaign total by $43,000.
"Each year, our customers step up in an incredible way to support their neighbors, and their generosity continues to inspire us," said Deana Percassi, Wegmans' vice president of community engagement and communications.
Why it matters locally
Food for Others, based at 2938 Prosperity Ave. in Fairfax, is the largest provider of free groceries in Northern Virginia and has served the region for 30 years. More than 105,000 people in Fairfax County are experiencing food insecurity, according to the nonprofit.
Executive Director Deb Haynes told WJLA that the organization served more than 64,000 individuals in 2025, with 20% of its food coming from the USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program. She said the nonprofit faces mounting pressure from federal funding uncertainty and rising grocery costs.
The summer months hit hardest. When school cafeterias close, families who rely on free or reduced-price meals face a gap that food banks must fill. The Wegmans campaign is timed to address that spike.
How to help
The campaign has ended, but Food for Others accepts donations and volunteers year-round at foodforothers.org or by calling 703-207-9173, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Campaign history
Fill the Bus started in 2013 as a traditional food drive. Between 2013 and 2019, customers donated more than 3.7 million pounds of food. Wegmans shifted to a checkout scanning model in 2021 and expanded it companywide in 2023. Since 2021, the campaign has raised more than $3.5 million total.
Across Virginia, the 2026 campaign benefited 11 hunger-relief organizations, including Food for Others, Loudoun Hunger Relief and the Capital Area Food Bank.
