Twenty volunteers from the Great Falls chapter of the Young Men's Service League helped collect nearly 30,000 pounds of food on Saturday, Sept. 12, working alongside more than 850 people across Northern Virginia in a drive to stock school pantries for students in need.

The collection at Herndon Middle School was part of Food For Neighbors' first Red Bag event of the 2026-27 school year, Reston Patch reported. The drive fell during Hunger Action Month. Donations will go to food pantries at 60 public middle and high schools in Fairfax, Loudoun and Arlington counties and the City of Falls Church.

More than one-third of Fairfax County students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, according to Food For Neighbors.

"Saturday showed exactly what can happen when each of us plays a small part," Karen Joseph, founder and executive director of Food For Neighbors, said. "One family fills one Red Bag. One volunteer drives a route. Another sorts a box of food."

Lisa Woestman, vice president of philanthropy for the YMSL Great Falls chapter, said food insecurity is a central focus for the league and that Food For Neighbors gives members a direct way to help.

The Great Falls chapter, founded in 2023, pairs 94 mothers with 104 high school-aged sons for community service. Members attend Langley, Flint Hill, Madison and McLean high schools, among others. The national Young Men's Service League (YMSL) requires each member to complete at least 20 service hours per year, with half served as a mother-son team.

Food For Neighbors was founded in Herndon in 2016. The nonprofit is entering its 10th year and said its programs now provide more than 12,000 students with access to food through school pantries.

Under the Red Bag Program, participating households receive a reusable bag and a grocery list. They fill the bag with requested food and toiletries before each scheduled collection day and leave it outside for volunteer pickup. Food For Neighbors hosts five Saturday collections throughout the school year.

The need is significant.

Courtney Erland, area manager for Food For Neighbors' original Herndon location, said the demand has grown and that new schools and organizations have reached out for help.

Another 15 YMSL volunteers from the organization's Maple Avenue chapter also participated on Sept. 12, along with employees of Lumen Technologies.

Food For Neighbors is seeking additional households to join the Red Bag Program for the 2026-27 school year. Residents can find schedule and signup details at foodforneighbors.org.