Discover Western Prince William
December 2025/January 2026
3
The Prince William County Public
Schools (PWCS) Food Pantry Pilot
Program began as a division-wide effort
to strengthen food security by partnering
with local businesses and community
organizations. Planning started last year,
when PWCS looked for ways to expand
beyond the weekend food bags many
schools were already providing. Leaders
saw an opportunity to create a more
sustainable support network--one that
could better help students facing hardship.
"We can't educate our children if their
basic needs aren't met," says PWCS
Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade.
In Prince William County, approximately
16,000 students struggle with food
insecurity, giving the area one of
the highest hunger rates in the
region.
To help address this need, a
ribbon-cutting ceremony for the
pilot launch was held at Hylton High
School in Woodbridge
on November 6. The
program is a collaboration
between PWCS, Capital
Area Food Bank, the
Prince William County
Community Foundation
(PWCCF), and the
C.H.O.W. Wagon.
The Capital Area
Food Bank supplies
nonperishable items
to PWCCF and the
C.H.O.W. Wagon
based on requests from
the pilot schools, and
monthly deliveries are
coordinated for each location.
At each participating school, parent liaisons
and school administrators manage pantry
operations with support from the school
division's Office of Community Outreach,
Business Partnerships, and Philanthropy.
They also help families access the pantries
by scheduling visits or preparing food
bags for pickup. Pantries are stocked with
essentials like rice, cereal, canned goods,
and seasonal items. Families can also
request assistance and pick up pre-packed
bags during flexible hours.
Students also play an important role in
pantry operations. At Hylton High School,
students in special
education help
stock shelves and
recently prepared
Thanksgiving bags.
Feedback has been
o v e r w h e l m i n g l y
positive. In one case, both parents lost their
jobs and relied on the pantry for support.
Many schools report a growing need for
food assistance and are grateful to have
resources that allow them to care for their
communities.
"Food security is a right, not a privilege,"
says PWCS Director of Community
Outreach, Business Partnerships, and
Philanthropy Dawn Davis, who also
serves as executive director of SPARK,
the county's education foundation. "Food
pantries at our schools reduce barriers to
food access, alleviate short-term needs,
cultivate a culture of support, and promote
consistency and sustainability for our
students and families."
The pilot is funded entirely
through private donations
and grants, with contributions
from community members
and local businesses.
Amazon Web Services
donated shelving for all 10
pilot schools and provided
volunteers to assist with
setup.
The pilot schools are Hylton High School,
Unity Reed High School, Lake Ridge
Middle School, Enterprise Elementary
School, Occoquan Elementary School,
Sudley Elementary School, Reagan Middle
School, Minnieville Elementary School,
Parkside Middle School, and Mullen
Elementary School. Sites were selected
based on capacity, available space, and
demonstrated need.
PWCS plans to add up to eight more
schools next year and ultimately hopes to
establish a food pantry at every school in
the division.
"No child in this country or in this county
should go hungry," Dr. McDade says.
For more information and to donate, visit
poweredbyspark.org. Select Programs,
then choose Food Pantries.
~ Kristy Gillespie
Prince William County Public Schools
Food Pantry Pilot Program:
Meeting Student Needs Beyond the Classroom
Hylton High School
Lake Ridge
Middle
School
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