Francis on the Hill is is a community-based food rescue and redistribution program dedicated to supporting children and families in Washington, DC, with a special focus on the Columbia Heights neighborhood.
We began at the onset of the pandemic in April 2020, working out of a small residential garage to provide 30 bags of fresh, wholesome groceries to 30 families. Today, from that same garage and an adjacent one, we’re reaching 500 families a week, currently distributing over 20 tons of food each month.
A "Garage-Band" Food Program
Gifts from the Heart
Groceries
Families in Columbia Heights and nearby Washington, DC neighborhoods experience high levels of food insecurity. Latino and African American families are disproportionately impacted, especially those who can’t qualify for government support programs or whose benefits (food stamps, child tax credits) were reduced or ended.
When Covid-19 restrictions began in March 2020, Following Francis founder Dr. Carol Conner saw an opportunity to serve those whose lives had been especially personally touched by the pandemic. She asked volunteers to pursue donations of surplus perishable foods from suppliers, grocery stores, and other food purveyors in order to provide fresh, wholesome groceries quickly and reliably.
Francis on the Hill distributes grocery bags filled with fresh, nutritious food items to 500 families every week, through
-
public distributions at Meridian Hill Park on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM
-
deliveries to families and individuals facing food insecurity at:
-
Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC)
-
The Terrell (Short-Term Family Housing facility in Ward 1)
-
We also deliver produce and other supplies
to La Vida Senior Center.
Everything we provide is donated by local groceries, restaurants, and regional food distributors.
What it Takes to Get Fresh, Wholesome Food to Neighbors Facing Food Insecurity
Volunteers
Francis on the Hill welcomes all ages and skill levels. Each year, about 275 of these friends contribute an average of 167 hours weekly to accomplish this work.
Pickups
Donations by local wholesalers and retailers are "rescued" from landfills throughout the week.
Processing
Food donations are typically in large quantities and need to be processed into family-sized portions.
Bagging
Twice weekly, groceries are packed into bags for delivery to families.
Distributions
Meridian Hill park
and partner locations.
Truck
Loading
Meridian Hill Park and partner locations.
Contributors to Francis on the Hill
Washington area donors of high- quality food items make the program possible. We gratefully acknowledge each of them.
-
Bethesda Bagels
-
Broad Branch Market
-
Capital Area Food Bank
-
Each Peach Market
-
FreshPoint/Coastal Sunbelt
-
Hillandale Farms
-
Safeway
-
Spring Mill Bakery Co.
-
Whole Foods Market