Fairfax County's Stuff the Bus food drive returns to the McLean Governmental Center on Saturday, Sept. 19, collecting donations for two local pantries.

The drive runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1437 Balls Hill Road. Non-perishable food items and gift cards collected at the McLean location will go to LINK and SHARE of McLean, according to Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services.

The program, running for nearly 15 years, places buses at Supervisor District offices across the county for one-day collection events organized in partnership with local grocery stores, volunteers and community organizations. The most recent drive in March collected 11,428 pounds of food and more than $1,700 in gift cards countywide.

Alisa Brooks, Fairfax County's food access program manager, said in an Aug. 24 statement that 26 percent of individuals in the county struggle with food insecurity. More than 64,000 children in Fairfax County Public Schools rely on free and reduced-price meals.

September is Hunger Action Month.

SHARE of McLean, based at McLean Baptist Church at 1367 Chain Bridge Road, fills more than 1,300 bags of groceries each month and supports more than 1,400 households. LINK serves as the Dranesville District's food pantry partner for the program.

The Dranesville District office also accepts non-perishable food and gift card donations year-round at the McLean Governmental Center, according to the office's social media accounts.

For questions about the Sept. 19 drive, residents can email [email protected].

What to know

• What: Stuff the Bus food drive
• When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Where: McLean Governmental Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean
• Benefiting: LINK and SHARE of McLean food pantries

Upcoming community dates

• Saturday, Sept. 5–Sunday, Sept. 6: Middle Eastern Food Festival, Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church, McLean
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Stuff the Bus food drive, McLean Governmental Center, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.