Reston Community Center’s annual Thanksgiving Drive runs November 1 through November 25, 2026, collecting food and essentials for Cornerstones, the Reston nonprofit. The donation list and drop-off locations are expected to post on November 1. The drive lands two months after Cornerstones won a three-year, $150,000 Maximus Foundation grant for food access.
Quick Summary
- Dates: November 1 to November 25, 2026, per the Reston Community Center events calendar.
- Who runs it: Reston Community Center and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, with donations going to Cornerstones.
- What to bring: the 2026 list posts November 1. Last year’s list focused on shelf-stable staples, grocery gift cards, new socks and new t-shirts.
- Where: 2026 sites post November 1. Last year there were 22 drop-off sites across Reston, Herndon and Tysons.
- Grant: Cornerstones received a $150,000 Maximus Foundation Impact Grant, paid over three years, Patch reported on September 18.
In this post: Dates and how it works | What last year’s list looked like | The $150,000 grant | Who Cornerstones is | What this means for Reston homeowners | FAQ | Sources
Dates and how the Reston Thanksgiving Drive works
Every fall, Reston Community Center teams up with the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstones to collect food before Thanksgiving. This year the collection window is Sunday, November 1 through Wednesday, November 25, the day before the holiday. RCC lists the drive under RCC Thanksgiving Drive 2026, based at RCC Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road.
The donation list and drop-off locations are set to be posted on November 1, according to Greater Reston Living’s fall events roundup. If you are reading this before then, the best move is simply to put the dates on your calendar.
What last year’s list looked like
The 2026 list is not out yet, but the 2025 version is a good preview. According to RCC’s 2025 drive page, which ran November 1 to 26 last year, the request list included:
- Rice (brown or white), mac and cheese, and beans or lentils of any kind
- Canned fruit, canned green beans, and canned meat and fish
- Granola bars, sugar, flour, and cooking oils (canola, vegetable or olive)
- Condiments and shelf-stable milk
- Grocery gift cards
- New socks and new t-shirts
Drop-offs were spread out on purpose. The 2025 page named 22 sites, including both RCC locations (Hunters Woods and Lake Anne), the Office of the Hunter Mill District Supervisor, the YMCA on Sunset Hills Road, Walker Nature Center, several Reston Town Center buildings, and a few spots in Herndon and Tysons. Donors could also order items online and ship them to RCC Hunters Woods.
One caution: locations and needs change from year to year, so check the November 1 posting before you load the trunk.
The $150,000 grant behind Cornerstones’ food work
On September 18, Patch reported that Cornerstones received a three-year, $150,000 Impact Grant from the Maximus Foundation to expand its food access programs in Reston. Cornerstones was one of 10 nonprofits nationwide to receive one.
The foundation said it awarded more than $2 million this year in total, and that Maximus employees help decide where the money goes by nominating organizations and voting on finalists. Patch did not report how many additional people the expanded programs will reach, so we have not given a number here.
Who Cornerstones is
Longtime locals may still think of it as Reston Interfaith. The group was founded in 1970 under that name by six local religious organizations and renamed Cornerstones in 2013, according to FFXnow’s March 2026 profile of its outgoing CEO.
Today its work reaches well beyond food. Cornerstones operates the Embry Rucker Community Shelter on Bowman Towne Drive, open since 1987 and now at 76 beds, along with the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center and the Free From Hunger Center in Sterling. FFXnow reported that the Sterling center has collected more than 1 million pounds of food for local pantries and feeding programs since 2023.
Leadership changed this spring. Kerrie Wilson, CEO for 25 years, retired, and Shannon Steene took over on April 13, per FFXnow. Wilson told FFXnow the nonprofit has had to adjust to reduced federal funding for safety net programs, including food benefits.
What this means for Reston homeowners
A few practical notes from someone who spends a lot of time in Reston homes. If you are getting ready to sell or move this fall, the drive is a good deadline for clearing out the pantry. Unopened, unexpired shelf-stable food is exactly what the list asks for, and it is one less box to pack. Check dates first, since expired items cannot be used.
If your condo, apartment building or office would like to collect, ask RCC about hosting a bin. Last year’s sites included residential buildings and local businesses, not just public buildings. Gift cards are the most flexible option if you would rather not shop from the list.
For more on what is happening around town, see our Reston neighborhood guide, the Reston Holiday Parade plan for November 27 and Reston’s farmers markets this fall. Curious what your own place is worth heading into winter? The Reston home value tool gives a quick estimate.
FAQ
When does the 2026 Reston Thanksgiving food drive run?
The RCC Thanksgiving Drive runs from Sunday, November 1 through Wednesday, November 25, 2026, according to the Reston Community Center events calendar. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26.
Who benefits from the RCC Thanksgiving Drive?
Donations go to Cornerstones, the Reston-based nonprofit that provides food, housing and emergency assistance. The drive is run by Reston Community Center with the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce.
What should I donate to the Reston Thanksgiving Drive?
The 2026 list is expected to be posted on November 1. Last year’s list asked for shelf-stable staples such as rice, beans and lentils, canned fruit and vegetables, canned meat and fish, cooking oil, flour and sugar, plus grocery gift cards, new socks and new t-shirts.
Where are the drop-off locations?
The 2026 drop-off sites are expected to be posted on November 1. In 2025 there were 22 sites, including RCC Hunters Woods, RCC Lake Anne, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce office on Metro Center Drive and several Reston Town Center buildings. Online orders could also be shipped to RCC Hunters Woods.
What is the $150,000 grant Cornerstones received?
In September 2026, Patch reported that Cornerstones was one of 10 nonprofits nationwide to receive a three-year, $150,000 Impact Grant from the Maximus Foundation to expand its food access programs.
Sources and reporting limits
- Reston Community Center, holiday events calendar (2026 drive dates, November 1 to 25)
- Greater Reston Living, “Fall Events in Reston and Herndon: October and November 2026” (November 1 posting of the list)
- Reston Community Center, “RCC Thanksgiving Drive 2025” (2025 dates, item list and drop-off sites)
- Patch Reston, “Reston Nonprofit Cornerstones Awarded $150K Grant From Maximus Foundation,” September 18, 2026
- FFXnow, “Retiring Cornerstones CEO sees rewards, challenges ahead for Reston nonprofit,” March 19, 2026
Limits: as of October 29, 2026, the 2026 item list and drop-off sites had not been published. The 2025 details are shown only as a guide. Confirm current details with Reston Community Center before donating.