Project summary

On October 1, 2026, employees from Deister Electronic USA, Inc. joined Cornerstones at its FREE from Hunger Center in Sterling, Virginia, for a morning of volunteering in support of local individuals and families. Working side by side, our team assembled 200 snack packs, helped prepare holiday breakfast bags, and packed bags of everyday necessities. Each task contributed to the preparation that makes food and essential supplies available to neighbors who need them.

Supporting the Community, Together

For 55 years, Cornerstones has supported local individuals and families. Its mission centers on stability, empowerment, and hope through support, advocacy, and community-building. Its work spans three connected needs: stable housing, food security, and thriving children and families. Services range from housing counseling and food assistance to childcare, youth programs, and neighborhood resources. Its annual impact overview reports approximately 26,000 instances of service.

From Food Donations to Family Tables

The FREE from Hunger Center collects, stores, and distributes food through a network of pantries and feeding programs across Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Its warehouse, refrigeration, and freezer capacity help community partners handle donations and move food where it is needed. Cornerstones’ annual impact overview reports 198,070 meals rescued and more than 900 households nourished. These figures reflect the organization’s wider work; our 200 snack packs were one contribution to that ongoing effort. Our host, Mohamad Elbarasse, helped connect the day’s hands-on activities with this broader mission.

Leaving Our Mark

Before heading back to the office, our team added their names to the center’s wall, joining the signatures of volunteers and supporters who had lent a hand before us. It was a fitting way to close the morning: seeing our own small contribution become part of a much bigger story.

Thank you to Mohamad and the Cornerstones team for welcoming us and showing us the work that goes into keeping local families fed and supported. With opportunities like the Thanksgiving drive Mohamad shared after our visit, there are more ways to stay involved beyond this one morning. We’re grateful to have played a part—and to carry that spirit of giving back into the places we live and work.