Food is at the heart of community. It nourishes families, carries culture forward, and creates moments of connection that make people feel seen and supported.
That sense of warmth is immediately felt when stepping into the home of Shewaye Getasetegne, who lives in a fixed-income senior housing community in Alexandria, Virginia. At 74 years old, Shewaye’s smile is infectious and her home is welcoming. She emigrated from Ethiopia 21 years ago and spent her career working as a certified nursing assistant and in data entry before retiring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While she receives a pension, it is not enough to keep up with the high cost of living in Northern Virginia. “We live in a very expensive city,” Shewaye says. “Every time you go to the grocery store, the prices pop up”
Last spring, the food bank expanded its Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) service area to include Northern Virginia, helping ensure that more older adults like Shewaye have reliable access to nutritious food. CSFP is a federal nutrition program that supports income-eligible adults aged 60 and older by providing 25 to 30 pounds of free, nutritious food. Each month, CSFP boxes are packed at our warehouse and distributed through trusted community partners. In Alexandria, boxes are stored with ALIVE! before being picked up for home delivery by team members from Senior Services of Alexandria, who bring the food directly to seniors’ doors.
The boxes include a mix of shelf-stable proteins, whole grains, cheese, and low-sodium and low-sugar canned foods.
For Shewaye, receiving these staples at no cost each month brings peace of mind. “And I use it. Everything,” she said.
That delivery model is particularly significant for older adults with mobility challenges or health concerns. “They bring it right here for you, so you don’t have to go anywhere,” Shewaye explained. “It’s very, very helpful. Especially for seniors who are bedridden.”
Knowing she can count on receiving a food box each month allows Shewaye to stretch her budget further and prioritize fresh produce and meat when she does her grocery shopping. It also gives her the freedom to cook the foods she loves most. Each morning, she enjoys oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, sometimes with peanut butter on toast. For dinner, she incorporates rice and canned vegetables into dishes seasoned with sauces, onions, and spices. When she makes soup, she adds canned corn; green beans are cooked down with aromatics for extra flavor. The ingredients become a foundation for Ethiopian cooking that reflects her culture, tastes, and creativity.
That ability to add her own spin matters. It represents autonomy, dignity, and the comfort of preparing food that feels like home. Shewaye also values the cheese included in the box, noting its importance for women’s health and calcium intake to support bone density.
But the impact of the CSFP box extends far beyond Shewaye’s own kitchen. She is one of the senior ambassadors in her building, a role focused on improving the wellbeing of her neighbors—many of whom are also Ethiopian immigrants. Together, residents organize biweekly fitness classes, facilitate traditional coffee ceremonies and look out for one another.
“We talk to each other,” Shewaye shared. “What kind of things people need here. If they’re sick, what kind of help they want to get.”
Food has become a natural entry point for these conversations. Since the CSFP expansion into Northern Virginia, Shewaye has helped grow enrollment in her community from an initial 20 people last spring to 117 today, largely through word of mouth. She tells neighbors that they may qualify too, making support feel accessible.
That trust is strengthened by the consistent presence of Marshall Hespe and Tesfaye Kerala from Senior Services of Alexandria, who deliver the boxes each month. Their relationships with residents allow them not only to provide food, but also to connect seniors to other resources they may need, including SNAP benefits and additional support services.
“A lot of seniors during COVID were really isolated,” Marshall shared. “This has given us an opportunity to bring people together in a natural way, help them with dignity and respect—that’s our organization’s mission. Capital Area Food Bank has given us the resources to keep building that trust here.”
As demand continues to grow, so does the importance of partnerships that meet seniors where they are. For many, limited income, language barriers, health challenges, or temporary setbacks can make it difficult to work or shop regularly. Having consistent access to food during those moments can make all the difference.
For Shewaye, the CSFP box is a steady source of support she can rely on each month, one that helps her stretch her budget, stay connected to her culture, and continue caring for the people around her. Programs like CSFP show how consistent access to nutritious food can strengthen independence, build trust, and bring communities together in meaningful ways.