Grand Opening!
In November 2023, Cornerstones opened the FREE from Hunger Center, known as “the food hub” in Loudoun County. This 10,000 square foot food warehouse is equipped with large capacity freezers and refrigerators, three loading bays, moving equipment to facilitate food rescue operations throughout Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
In the first year of operations almost 300,000 pounds of food has been rescued to provide to partnering food pantries.
Cornerstones FREE from Hunger Center
22560 Glenn Drive
Unit 105
Sterling, VA 20164
Click here to view the photos from our ribbon cutting celebration.
The Hunger Challenge
Food insecurity affects 37% of residents in the Greater Washington region according to Capital Area Food Bank’s Hunger Report 2024. In Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, thousands of families struggle to put food on the table every day. Yet, Food Rescue US reports that up to 40% of the US food supply is wasted and of the food wasted, 42% is fresh produce and 26% is milk and dairy. A simple 15% reduction in food waste in the US would provide enough food for more than 25 million American each year.
Serving up Solutions: Eliminate Food Waste and Expedite Distribution
Cornerstones’ FREE from Hunger Center works to ensure that food doesn’t go to waste while assisting local neighborhood food pantries and feeding programs in their efforts to expedite the distribution of food to those in need. We understand that food waste is a tragedy when so many individuals are going hungry. Our Center serves as a bridge between food donors and food service programs to efficiently connect surplus pantry stables and fresh produce with families who need it the most.
And it’s not just a problem of access: there’s a lot of food to be rescued/donated, but nowhere to store it before it expires. Some organizations lack refrigerated space to keep fresh produce, dairy, or meat — all crucial to a nutritious diet.
Reducing food waste helps address the problem of food insecurity. But it takes a village to make it happen. At Cornerstones, we are developing a Fairfax and Loudoun Counties network to rescue excess food, store it safely, and make sure neighborhood pantry and feeding programs can expedite it to families who need it.
Our mission is two-fold:
2. Ensure the rescued food gets to families who need it
What is Food Insecurity?
Food insecurity happens when people have insufficient or zero access to nutritious food. It can affect anyone, even working families.*
Check out how Cornerstones partnered with Feed the Children and StarKist for a memorable food drive:
Tackling Food Insecurity in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties
We regularly work with the Capital Area Food Bank and are partnering with nonprofits in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties to connect families
in need with nutritious food.
We’re partnering with local pantries and nonprofit organizations to support their food storage needs and connect them with generous donors. We couldn’t make a difference without their dedication and drive — or your support.
*Source: USDA ERS
Your gift today helps vulnerable neighbors develop economic stability, provide for their families, and thrive in our community
Looking to donate food? Click below for more information on where to donate and what kind of items are most needed.
Interested in becoming a FREE from Hunger Center food pantry partner? Click below to contact Bill Threlkeld, our VP of Community Building and Neighborhood Resources
What is Food Rescue?
Food rescue entails redistributing food from farms, groceries, and eateries to families in need. It’s crucial to food assistance organizations; they can’t rely solely on individual donations.
More than 3 million tons of food is wasted by grocery stores every year, ending up in a landfill even before its expiration date. Of all food waste, 34% is produce — much of which is discarded for being unsightly.**
A lot of produce is also wasted before it ever reaches the store: if farmers can’t sell it to distributors, it often goes into the landfill.
Unfortunately for local farms and restaurants, there isn’t always an option to donate excess produce or ingredients. Pantries and feeding programs often can’t accept perishable food, or they simply don’t have room for commercial-size donations.
**Source: Food Waste Monitor
Take a look at the FREE from Hunger
Center’s storage capacity:
Working in Partnership to Close Food Gaps in the Region
Cornerstones is dedicated to bridging the food distribution gap in Northern Virginia by providing farmers and restaurateurs with an avenue to share their surplus food. Additionally, we’ve joined forces with nonprofit organizations, faith groups, schools, and local community-based pantries and feeding programs, offering them access to our state-of-the-art storage facilities for perishable and refrigerated items. Together, we’re nourishing our community and reducing food waste.
Our Food Rescue Mission for Northern Virginia
Cornerstones is living up to its mission by providing a stronger foundation to combat food insecurity. One of our strategic priorities is reducing food waste and amplifying food rescue.
Our flagship project is the FREE from Hunger Center, a 10,000 sq. ft. storage and distribution solution that offers:
- Climate-controlled and refrigerated storage
- Overflow space for food pantries
- Coordinated efforts to rescue and redistribute food to those in need
These vital resources help Northern Virginia’s food assistance organizations fulfill their mission — just another way Cornerstones offers stability, empowerment, and hope along the Dulles Corridor region.
How You Can Help
Your gift today helps vulnerable neighbors develop economic stability, provide for their families, and thrive in our community
Looking to donate food? Click below for more information from nonprofit and faith-based organizations on where food is needed and what kind of items are best to donate
People just like you commit their time and talents to helping neighbors in our community
Interested in becoming a FREE from Hunger Center food pantry partner? Click below to contact Bill Threlkeld, our VP of Community Building and Neighborhood Resources
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