Joe and Lisa Emrico,, owners of Mount Vernon Masonry in Old Town Alexandria, are committed to giving back to their community. Each week, they spend an average 5 - 10 hours collecting and delivering food donations to UCM from area grocery stores. The unsold food would otherwise end up destroyed in landfills.
Chances are, if you've delivered donations to the UCM main office loading dock in recent months, you've seen the Emricos with Food Pantry manager Wossenu Weldekeris (at far right in photo). "Over the decades, my business did the masonry work for many of the buildings in southeast Fairfax County, including many of the Giant grocery stores like the big one at Kingstowne," Joe explains. "I know many of the people at the loading docks. We have the flexibility to show up in the early morning when the timing is right for them as they change out for new inventory."
As a result of Joe and Lisa's dedication, during 2015 an amazing 21,000 pounds of food was recovered and donated by the Giant at Kingstowne to the UCM Food Pantry. That amount represents a week's worth of supplemental groceries that helped feed about 700 hungry families. When families qualify for food at UCM, it means they can use their limited income to pay rent, utilities, and other household necessities.
"We have a constant need for food donations to be able to serve the 400 - 500 families who struggle to make ends meet and depend on the UCM Food Pantry each and every week," explains Wossenu. "All of us at UCM are very grateful to Joe and Lisa for their time and commitment to help people in need."
Chances are, if you've delivered donations to the UCM main office loading dock in recent months, you've seen the Emricos with Food Pantry manager Wossenu Weldekeris (at far right in photo). "Over the decades, my business did the masonry work for many of the buildings in southeast Fairfax County, including many of the Giant grocery stores like the big one at Kingstowne," Joe explains. "I know many of the people at the loading docks. We have the flexibility to show up in the early morning when the timing is right for them as they change out for new inventory."
As a result of Joe and Lisa's dedication, during 2015 an amazing 21,000 pounds of food was recovered and donated by the Giant at Kingstowne to the UCM Food Pantry. That amount represents a week's worth of supplemental groceries that helped feed about 700 hungry families. When families qualify for food at UCM, it means they can use their limited income to pay rent, utilities, and other household necessities.
"We have a constant need for food donations to be able to serve the 400 - 500 families who struggle to make ends meet and depend on the UCM Food Pantry each and every week," explains Wossenu. "All of us at UCM are very grateful to Joe and Lisa for their time and commitment to help people in need."
"We have seen and know adults and children who are working hard to make ends meet, but still it's not always enough," Joe explains. "We see the need, and we have the time and a truck to help -- it's as simple as that."
Studies show that each year, the United States throws away one-third of all the food it produces -- more than 130 billion pounds of food. Grocery stores are responsible for tossing an estimated 10% of that food, much of which could otherwise be recovered and feed people. A key reason why grocery store chains are responsible for so much waste is due to consumers' preferences: most people won't purchase produce that is misshapen even though it is edible and full of the same nutrients. Learn more about grocery store waste in this article.
Thank you, Joe and Lisa for your inspiring example to be part of the solution to help neighbors in need!
(E-news Feb. 2017)
Studies show that each year, the United States throws away one-third of all the food it produces -- more than 130 billion pounds of food. Grocery stores are responsible for tossing an estimated 10% of that food, much of which could otherwise be recovered and feed people. A key reason why grocery store chains are responsible for so much waste is due to consumers' preferences: most people won't purchase produce that is misshapen even though it is edible and full of the same nutrients. Learn more about grocery store waste in this article.
Thank you, Joe and Lisa for your inspiring example to be part of the solution to help neighbors in need!
(E-news Feb. 2017)
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