Dining Out for a Good Cause

Given Arlington's vibrant restaurant scene, it may be easy to forget those among us who struggle to have enough food to eat.

But this month, the Arlington Food Assistance Center will host several events at local hotspots to raise awareness about the need for food assistance as part of the third annual Hunger Action Month.

“I think a lot of people have the misconception that Arlington County has a fairly high income rate and so a lot of people think maybe hunger doesn’t exist here,” said Mona Bormet, the center's outreach and research manager.

Hunger is a very real problem in Arlington. The Arlington Food Assistance Center serves 1,400 families each week with supplemental groceries.

“All of us, it seems to me, have an obligation to help others who are in difficult situations,” said Andy Semmel, a center volunteer.

The center is providing people with a wide variety of opportunities to help Arlington’s hungry.

Several restaurants will be hosting donation days, during which a certain percentage of the day’s profits will be donated to the food assistance center. Local bars will hold happy hours and wine tastings to raise awareness.

Five local are holding a food drive on Sept. 10 and 11, and volunteers are needed. Interested? Email volunteer4afac@afac.org.

Arlington Central Library is featuring bilingual storyteller Jose-Luiz Orozco, who will teach people about food and nutrition on Sept. 18.

Arlington Church of the Brethren is hosting Shred for Bread — an opportunity for residents to shred their personal documents in exchange for a non-perishable food donation — on Sept. 17.

Clarendon eatery Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza is among the businesses participating. The restaurant will donate 25 percent of its profits to the food assistance center on Sept. 13. The estimated donation will total upwards of $1,500.

“We like to help out wherever we can,” said Pete’s co-founder Thomas Marr. “This seemed like a great opportunity to help out in an area that needed it.”

Can't make it to Pete's? Try pie-tanza on Tuesday; the on Sept. 20; or the  on Sept. 27.

Plus, four Arlington businesses are hosting happy hours or wine tastings for the food assistance center: the on Tuesday; on Sept. 15; on Sept. 21; and on Sept. 29.

The Arlington Food Assistance Center is in dire need of community assistance. The nonprofit hopes to raise $2.1 million and 1.5 million pounds of donated food this fiscal year.

“There is a significant need,” said Charles Meng, the center's executive director. “This is really a $5 million operation.”