Washington DC: Food and Friends

Preparing and delivering specialized, nutritious meals to folks living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other serious illnesses

Community Partner: Food and Friends

Trip Dates: January 3-10, 2026

Location: Washington, DC

Number of Participants: 10

Price: $500

Included in participant fee:

All logistical and travel expenses: Rental vehicles for roundtrip transportation (damage/insurance coverage included) and overnight lodging duration of trip (housing is TBD).
Project/service fees OR donation to community partner for facilitating week of service/alternative break experience.
Buck-I-SERV supplies/swag: Individual items (t-shirts, water bottles, fanny packs, and pens for each group member) and group items (first aid kit, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, deck of playing cards, and thank you card for community partner).
Buck-I-SERV Events and Training: Winter Kick-Off and Welcome Back events with catering and pre-trip education and training.
Meals and group activities: The group will be provided a budget to use for group meals and group activities. Participants should plan to bring money for out of pocket expenses.

Travel and housing:

Participants will drive to and from Washington DC in rental vehicles.
Housing for the trip is currently TBD. Expect accommodations to either be a local volunteer/retreat housing site, church, or hostel in DC.
- Please note that service housing provides a unique opportunity to build community and embrace simplicity, often staying in welcoming spaces like religious buildings or community centers. While accommodations may be rustic—such as sleeping on cots or air mattresses, making use of community kitchens and showers, and limited hot water for showers—they foster meaningful connections and a deeper focus on service and reflection.
A full packing list will be provided to participants and discussed during pre-trip meetings leading up to departure.

What to expect:

Food and Friends provides meals, groceries, and nutrition counseling to people living with life-challenging illnesses. All meals and services are free-of-charge to the client, their dependents, and caregivers.
Participants will package and deliver meals to Food and Friends clients around Washington DC, prepare meals at the food bank, and visit with clients throughout the day.