NVFS is able to increase its impact through the support of the community — including corporate partners such as Lockheed Martin. For the past several years, Lockheed Martin’s Manassas branch has supported NVFS’ SERVE Campus with a food and donation drive at its annual Chili Cook-Off. In 2017, employees collected the equivalent of 8,633.5 pounds of food, which can provide meals for nearly 1,800 families of four, through collection boxes and online donations. Employees also raised an additional $1,124, including a match from the Cecil and Irene Hylton Foundation, toward NVFS’ Keeping Our Promise to SERVE capital campaign.

“When people see the value in their community, they see the value in our services and really want to get involved,” shares Navara Cannon, community and volunteer engagement specialist for NVFS’ SERVE Campus. “It’s been fun to see how the employees at Lockheed Martin engage with us and each other, through different competitions and challenges, to help benefit their local community.”

The Manassas branch supports NVFS’ SERVE Campus throughout the year as well, including its Project MENU campaign, which raised nearly $16,000 in spring 2017; back-to-school supply drives; and volunteer assistance in NVFS’ Hunger Resource Center. Employees also participate in NVFS’ Strikes for Stronger Families Bowl-a-thon, which takes place annually in March, including food drives and online fundraising.

“What I enjoy most about our holiday support for NVFS’ SERVE Campus is knowing I am helping my local community — not because it’s the holiday season, but because the need is greater while kids are out of school and it’s the right thing to do,” states Pierre Cannon, EPM at Lockheed Martin RMS in Manassas.