Washington, DC – In an effort to provide additional community support while its retail stores are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Goodwill of Greater Washington has Partnered with the Capital Area Food Bank to deliver food to local distribution centers.

Since May 14th Goodwill of Greater Washington has delivered 199 pallets of food to the Prince William County Office of emergency Management Community Feeding Taskforce, the D.C. Department of Human Services, Plenty to Eat, Casa Ruby, C.H.V. Tenants Association, Prince George’s County Council, Turner AME Church and Francis on the Hill. That equates to 9,075 life sustaining meals across the region.

”During the COVID-19 crisis we are all called upon to help our community in ways that are different from our normal operation. We were honored to be able to support the Capital Area Food Bank, as we provided transportation for much needed food to the residents of Prince William County, the District of Columbia, and Prince George’s County”, said Catherine Meloy, President and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington. “The same trucks and drivers who work within our retail stores worked next to the Capital Area Food Bank team and the National Guard. This was a way in which Goodwill of Greater Washington could help transform lives and communities through the strong partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank.”

Goodwill trucks are typically transporting goods and materials between its donation centers, warehouses and 20 area retail stores. Since the stores closed, Goodwill has been able to utilize its fleet to help increase the Capital Area Food Bank’s capacity to serve food to those in critical need.

“No one has ever seen anything like this moment, and it requires new and innovative solutions to manage unprecedented challenges,” said Radha Muthiah, CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. “The incredible increase in need in our region means we’re distributing more food than ever, and the creative partnership we’ve formed with Goodwill of Greater Washington is a key part of making those logistics work.”

Goodwill anticipates making several more food deliveries before our stores reopen, possibly continuing through the month of June.

Goodwill’s mission is to transform lives and communities through the power of education and employment. During the pandemic, Goodwill has shifted from face-to-face classroom settings to the development of a virtual career center offering a variety of free workforce and job preparation workshops online.