Begun in 2006 to meet a growing emergency need in the Manassas downtown area, we began a food pantry that has evolved over time. Food items are secured through donations as well as the Capital Area Food Bank via the U.S. Department of Agriculture and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).  Shoppers complete a brief application to qualify.

Our food pantry is available to any person who needs food. Our mission is to serve people who are homeless, underemployed, unemployed or who live nearby and lack transportation to receive food at other locations.

Pantry volunteers assist clients to shop from our stocked shelves, providing quantities based on family size. Shoppers ideally bring their own reusable bags. Plastic bags, cardboard boxes and a few reusable bags are available for customers.

Donations of reusable cloth bags are always welcome! If you have any shelf stable items to donate, please place your contributions on the shelf at the end of the hall next to Room 104. Dedicated Sunday offerings help to replenish the funds needed to restock the food supplies.

Volunteers are always needed to help unload the delivery truck the Monday morning before distribution, and and/or accompany shoppers on the day of pantry. Our food distribution days are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 9:00am -11:00 am. Family size determines food quantity. These distributions are funded through donations and grants, when available.

We encourage you to give what you can, and spread the word to area faith communities and businesses.  You can make a donation via Zelle or PayPal.

For more information, contact us at foodpantry@bruu.org

The Food Pantry Turns 20!!!
(June, 2026)

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the volunteers and pantry team for your 20 years of dedication and service to the people of our community!

We currently dispense food on the second and fourth Tuesday, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, to approximately 80 families. Our customers range from a couple of individuals who fill their backpacks to families of seven or more. We try to provide every family with healthful food such as fresh produce, meat, pasta, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, dried and canned beans, peanut butter, oil, flour or masa, raisins, boxed milk, and bagged cereal.

Thanks to your generous donations during Sunday morning’s Split the Plate, we are able to supplement free and reduced-cost products acquired from Capital Area Food Bank and Northern Virginia Food Rescue.

We need strong volunteers to help unload the truck and additional volunteers to assist shoppers. Some of our long-serving helpers, including Ralph and Gretchen, will need to step down from their leadership roles in the near future. Please contact foodpantry@bruu.org if you are interested and willing to lend a hand to this vital community service.

You’ll see a shelf at the end of the hall by Room 104 for much-appreciated donations. While most of our shoppers have now been trained to bring their own reusable cloth bags, we welcome reusable cloth bag donations as well as plastic bags for produce and meat.