On Tuesday (December 12, 2020) Arlington Charities (AC) was
delighted to receive 1,894 pounds of holiday food donations from the Amazon Sortation Center in Irving.
Amazon also surprised Arlington Charities this week with a donation of $50,000. These generous
donations come at a pivotal time for Arlington Charities, who just recently reopened after being damaged
by an EF2 Tornado and is gearing up for their largest annual holiday distribution yet, with over 1300
families receiving holiday food items. The nonprofit was selected thanks to their unwavering commitment
to feeding Arlington families affected by Covid-19, food insecurity, poverty, and homelessness.
As employees at the Amazon Sortation Center in Irving were gearing up for the busy holiday season, they
received a notice to submit proposals for local charitable organizations which Amazon could donate
pantry supplies to during the holidays as part of their “Right Now Needs Holiday Campaign.” “This
year’s Right Now Needs Holiday Campaign is providing Amazon associates, managers, and site
leadership across the United States, Canada, and Mexico the opportunity to donate to a hyper-local
organization supporting children and families impacted by homelessness,” explained Amazon Program
Manager, Alicia Koch. 200 organizations were selected out of 1000 applicants, including Arlington
Charities.
Amazon employee, Dione Rowell, was overjoyed when her proposal for Arlington Charities was selected.
Growing up in Arlington with familial ties to Arlington Charities, Dione has a deep admiration for how
much the charity “respects their clients.” “Every dollar donated to Arlington Charities goes straight to
helping out their clients,” asserted Dione. “It is great to see a large company like Amazon recognize that
and give to a smaller organization without a fancy building or million-dollar budget.”
Arlington Charities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization helping to stabilize families, individuals and the
homeless by helping them cover their most basic needs. Incorporated in 1979, the charity is currently the
largest food pantry in the city. It specializes in food, clothing, hygiene items, utility assistance, financial
literacy and nutrition education, holiday programs, case management, and information and referral
services.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Arlington Charities has been assisting up to 200 families per day, which
is more than triple their normal output. “Arlington Charities is incredibly excited to receive assistance
from Amazon,” says Executive Director Deborah Coppola. “Their donation will make a huge impact
during our busy holiday season.”