To the Editor:
In response to the article regarding the WFCM Holiday Food Program, I would like to take time emphasizing the importance of not only this specific program, but also others like it.
As the article states, even though Northern Virginia is a wealthy area, there are many families who do not reap the benefits. Not only are 1 in 4 children in FCPS receiving free or reduced lunches at school, but according to the 2013 census, 5.9 percent of our residents and 7.8 percent of children live in poverty here in Fairfax County.
It is sad that there is such a harsh line being drawn, separating families who are struggling from those who are well off. This divide creates a hierarchy that only benefits a select few, and is especially damaging to that 7.8 percent of children that aren’t getting the resources they need to succeed. Children living in poverty have access to at least one free, full meal a day at school but during holiday breaks, those kids often go without — an issue that other kids, due to being a part of a higher income family, do not have to worry about. It is also sad that many people are unaware of the level of poverty present in our community — and if they remain unaware, how can this issue be fixed?
That is why programs that spread awareness and get the community involved are so necessary, and which is why I encourage residents to support the WFCM Food Program. It can be your way to help bridge the gap between those in need and those who aren’t by making food resources available so that everyone can have meals on the table during the holiday season.
As a FCPS graduate and someone who has only ever called Fairfax County home — I am glad to read about fellow residents reaching out to help one another, and I hope that this will become a priority for more people in the future.
Jemma Stratton
Clifton
Centreville High School graduate, now a freshman at JMU