Many Northern Virginia restaurants give back to the community that supports them. Just consider how many offered help to furloughed and laid-off workers during the record-breaking government shutdown in late 2025. Here are some local eateries providing more than great food.
Timber Pizza Co.
Many teachers pay for school supplies out of their own pockets, and Timber is aiming to change that. Now through Aug. 31, both of the pizzeria’s Northern Virginia locations are collecting school supplies for local students and teachers in partnership with Northern Virginia Family Services. Make a donation and get a free scoop of ice cream. Both restaurants are also holding weekly raffles in which teachers will be entered to win $200 in Amazon gift cards. 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston), and 8100 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Immigrant Food
Given its gastroadvocacy mission, it’s not surprising that this globally inspired cafe and Best of Arlington winner makes a point of giving back. Founded in 2019 in D.C. by Peter Schechter and Téa Ivanovic, the immigrant-owned and -operated business partners with five D.C.-based nonprofits (they call them Impact Partners) to provide resources such as legal aid, English language classes, job training and fundraising campaigns for immigrants. The restaurant also publishes The Think Table, a monthly digital magazine highlighting immigration stories and policy discussions. 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Ballston)
SER
Javier Candon and Christiana Campos’s family-owned Spanish restaurant in Ballston donates 25 cents from every meal sold to the Arlington Food Assistance Center. That makes every plate of paella a little extra flavorful. 1110 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston)
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Inca Social
For five years running, this lively Peruvian restaurant with locations in Arlington and Vienna has partnered with The Lending Hand to stage backpack drives, and this year’s fundraiser brought in more than 300 backpacks for local students. Coming up later this fall: a Thanksgiving food drive and the restaurant’s annual holiday toy drive. Last year, Inca Social donated 700 complete Thanksgiving meals to residents in need. Every year in December, they collect and donate upward of 1,000 holiday gifts for kids. 1776 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Liberty Restaurant Group
The folks behind Lyon Hall, The Liberty Tavern, Northside Social and The Falls have a long history of partnerships with local charities. Last November, Northside Social teamed with Counter Culture Coffee and the Arlington Free Clinic, which provides medical care to uninsured Arlingtonians, to offer a special coffee blend with proceeds supporting the clinic. For 20 years, the group has partnered with Doorways, which supports victims of domestic violence, through donations and educational workshops. Liberty co-founder Stephen Fedorchak is a longtime board member and past president at Doorways, and he has served on the Community Council at the clinic. See website for restaurant locations.
Paisano’s Pizza
A homegrown success story, this restaurant with 40 locations in the DMV is a giver. Launched in 2025, its Paisano’s With a Purpose initiative includes a summer Community Slice Program, through which patrons can donate $4 slices of cheese pizza for school-age children. Just tack the extras onto your tab at checkout, or donate online. This fundraiser was created to offset food insecurity in the summer months when kids don’t have access to school meal programs. See website for locations.
