World Food Movement (WFM), a US-based nonprofit dedicated to “alleviating food insecurity” among students and communities, has announced the expansion of its feeding mission to the Washington, D.C. region, beginning with free weekend meal kits for students at Braddock Elementary School in Fairfax County, Virginia.

The initiative formally launched over Thanksgiving weekend, with WFM delivering weekend meal kits designed to provide six wholesome meals per child. The program aims to address nutrition gaps on days when school breakfast and lunch are not available.

According to WFM, each meal kit is carefully curated to meet children’s nutritional needs while respecting their preferences. The kits include a balanced mix of grains, proteins, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and child-friendly snacks. The organization noted that the program currently serves students at Braddock Elementary School and is structured to scale to additional Title I schools.

The Washington, D.C.-area initiative is being implemented in collaboration with Fairfax County Public Schools to provide weekend meal support for students from Kindergarten through Grade 5.

“This effort was developed in direct response to needs articulated in a recent correspondence from the Fairfax County School Board to WFM and was further refined following an on-site visit to comprehensively assess the specific requirements of the Braddock Elementary School student community,” according to WFM.

By addressing the weekend nutrition gap, WFM stated that the meal kit program helps students return to class on Mondays better nourished, more focused, and ready to learn. Research on weekend and school-based meal programs indicates that consistent access to balanced food supports attendance, concentration, and academic performance, particularly among younger students.

“We just finished delivering four days’ worth of food to our students here at Braddock Elementary School to make sure they have delicious and nutritious meals over the Thanksgiving break, because we all know that students can’t learn when they’re hungry,” said Rachna Sizemore Heizer, Braddock District Representative on the Fairfax County School Board. “We are grateful to the World Food Movement for adopting Braddock Elementary School.”

Building on its experience serving more than 20,000 fresh, nutritious meals in New York, New Jersey, and the Bay Area, WFM said it will soon expand its operations in the region to provide hot, freshly prepared meals to community college students and food-insecure individuals in the Washington, D.C. area.

These meals will feature menus aligned with U.S. nutrition standards and tailored to diverse dietary needs. WFM is collaborating with schools, colleges, community partners, and donors to replicate proven distribution systems that prioritize quality and dignity in meal delivery.

“At World Food Movement, every box we pack is a promise that a child can focus on being a learner, not on being hungry,” said Co-founder and Vice Chairman of WFM, Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa. “This Thanksgiving at Braddock Elementary School, those weekend meal kits are more than food—they are a message to students and families that their community sees them and stands with them.”

WFM Executive Director, Sri Naveena Neerada Dasa, noted, “When schools, community leaders and nonprofits come together, hunger becomes a solvable problem. By delivering nutritious meal kits, we are helping students return to class ready to learn, grow and thrive,” adding, “Our commitment is long-term—we look forward to deepening this partnership and extending this model so that children across America have reliable access to fresh meals.”

WFM is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on alleviating food insecurity among students and communities nationwide. Inspired by the vision of Srila Prabhupada and drawing on the 25-year operational expertise of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, the world’s largest NGO-run school lunch program, WFM provides fresh, nutritious, climate-friendly meals with dignity at its core.

The organization currently operates across New Jersey, New York, California, and Washington, D.C., and has set goals to serve 100,000 meals annually by 2027 and reach 1 million cumulative meals by 2030.

For more information about World Food Movement or to support its Washington, D.C.-area feeding initiative, visit wfmnj.org or contact info@wfmnj.org.

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