Hunger Action Month
Fighting Hunger in the Nation’s Wealthiest County
Loudoun County, VA, September 8, 2025 – September is Hunger Action Month, and few people are likely to think of the nation’s wealthiest county when they consider the fight against hunger. With a reported median income of $178,707, Loudoun once again tops the list and as this data point makes headlines, the need that currently exists in the county gets little attention.
But this distinction is accompanied by a significantly higher cost of living than the national average, largely driven by housing prices, transportation costs, utilities rates, and grocery prices. Countless families are living paycheck to paycheck, with over 32,000 individuals considered “food insecure” and 68% of those do not qualify for SNAP benefits. Additionally, 28% of students in Loudoun receive free or reduced lunch, with some schools providing it for 91% of the student body.
This Hunger Action Month, Tree of Life Ministries is working to not just bring awareness to the need that exists in Loudoun, but to help people understand how fighting hunger has a much bigger impact for this community.
At Tree of Life, their Food Branch has been integral to helping families in need since they began the Ministry in 2008 out of a local church. Since then, they’ve gone from serving residents in the Purcellville area of Western Loudoun to providing food and other resources for those in need throughout the entire county. Their food pantry model is unique and allows them to substantially impact the families that they are serving. Rather than providing a bag or two of food to help with a person’s immediate situation, Tree of Life provides 2-3 weeks’ worth of groceries delivered directly to the people they serve.
According to the Living Wage Institute out of MIT, the estimated monthly cost of groceries in Loudoun for a family of four is $1,227. When you consider this cost and the amount of food Tree of Life is able to provide to households – ranging anywhere from 1 to 11 people – this not only greatly impacts a family’s access to food, but the budget savings can be upwards of $1,000/month. That means more money available for rent, utilities, transportation, education needs, and more, without having to decide between food on the table and paying the bills.
This support doesn’t just feed families, according to the Ministry, it has a much deeper impact: it helps keep families in their homes. As noted by Tree of Life’s CEO, Susannah Lee, “by providing reliable and significant access to food at no cost, as well as additional services through our other program areas when needed, we are filling a gap for families, giving them time to get on their feet and make a positive change that will help them find better financial security and sustainability.”
It’s clear from examples across the US that being a wealthy community does not prevent an area from facing a homelessness crisis. The latest count in Loudoun of unhoused individuals is 252. While seeking to support these individuals is imperative, keeping this number low by helping others stay in their homes isn’t just good for the families directly affected, it is good for the whole community. Programs that focus on prevention, not just crisis response, like the model used by Tree of Life for providing food and other support, appear to be key to ensuring better outcomes for families that are struggling – and this is good for all of Loudoun. Lee concluded that “fighting hunger in Loudoun isn’t just about putting food on tables, it is about caring for the community, keeping families together, and building brighter futures.”
Tree of Life Ministries is a faith-based non-profit serving all of Loudoun County and some surrounding areas. Their services fall into five branches: Food, Lifeskills, Shelter, Healthcare, and Relief. For more information, visit www.tolministries.org.
