From a single closet shared by two churches to a bustling community lifeline helping tens of thousands annually, the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year — and its mission is more critical than ever.
Since its founding, the pantry has assisted more than 500,000 people, thanks to the support of 10,000 donors and an army of volunteers. What began as a small operation by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Haymarket has become a vital resource for families facing hunger across western Prince William County.
“We started as two churches with a closet and moved on from there… now we’re at 40,000 people,” said Eileen Smith, board executive director. “The growth has been exponential.”
According to the Capital Area Food Bank, food insecurity in Prince William County now affects 43% of residents — the highest rate in Virginia and second only to Prince George’s County, Md., in the Washington, D.C., region.
The USDA defines food insecurity as lacking access to enough food for an active, healthy life — specifically, being unable to eat for 50% of the week due to financial strain, said Smith.
“It’s people who look just like you and me,” said Smith. “The cars are regular cars, the people are regular people… it’s your neighbor that comes to see us.”
In 2024 alone, the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry distributed more than 552,000 pounds of food. To meet the surging demand, it has expanded its partnerships — growing from five to 10 grocery store pick-ups, adding farms, and purchasing food when donations run short. The organization is also feeling the pinch from a recent USDA decision to withdraw a $1 billion food purchase, which was intended for food pantries.
“The food was already on pallets, sitting on loading docks, and the order was canceled,” said Smith. “We anticipate having a lot more trouble feeding the more people we’re seeing.”
The pantry operates entirely with volunteer support, logging 25,000 volunteer hours last year alone. Volunteers help with everything from food pickups and inventory to running children’s programs and administrative work. More than 250 people volunteer weekly, with over 1,000 monthly.
“Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization,” said Smith, who has been with the pantry for 18 years and served as executive director for the past 10.
To celebrate its anniversary, the pantry plans to honor its volunteers with a summer appreciation party, receive a commendation from Prince William Supervisor Tom Gordy in May, and host a gala in September to mark two decades of service.
Residents looking to get involved can visit haymarketfoodpantry.org and click “I want to help.”
The pantry is located at 7669 Limestone Drive, Gainesville, with Suite 105 serving as its client shopping area and Suite 108 operating as the warehouse.
“This year is not only about feeding our hungry neighbors, but about celebrating our volunteers and where we’ve come from,” Smith said. “We’re so incredibly thankful to our community. Whenever we need help, it just tends to magically arrive.”
