LINK Celebrates 50 Years Providing Emergency Food - October 16

HERNDON/STERLING, Virginia—LINK, an all-volunteer food pantry providing emergency support to neighbors in Herndon, Sterling, and Ashburn, is celebrating fifty years of service to the Northern Virginia community. LINK, a partnership of 15 Christian churches from multiple denominations located in Sterling, Herndon, Chantilly and Reston, provides emergency food and financial assistance to neighbors facing economic challenges. Services are and always have been provided entirely by volunteers, with no paid staff. The name accurately represents the large number of Christians and community partners linked together to provide support to people with insufficient resources.

LINK volunteers and friends will celebrate the anniversary on the Herndon United Methodist grounds at 701 Bennett Street (rear parking lot, small white building between the church and pre-school) on October 16, 2022, from 2-4 pm. LINK was originally established in 1972 with five churches to support the Sterling and Herndon communities. LINK, Incorporated was chartered as a “Not for Profit Organization” in 1978 to combine resources in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties.

Volunteers pack and deliver food and grocery gift cards daily by request. Currently we are sending about 5,000 pounds of food a week to about 60 families in Herndon, Sterling, and Ashburn. In 2021, LINK made 2,771 deliveries to 14,252 people, with 52% of deliveries in Fairfax County and 48% in Loudoun County. In addition, last year 1,974 families received 115,000 pounds of food from a monthly food distribution effort between LINK and Capital Area Food Bank.

At Thanksgiving and Christmas 2021, LINK provided food and grocery cards to 5,284 people, plus toys to 2,431 children. We make deliveries from the pantry in Herndon; Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Sterling hosts additional inventory and the monthly food distribution.

The pantry is stocked almost entirely by donations of food, toiletries, and hygiene products. Teams of volunteers move food donated by schools, grocery stores, and restaurants for distribution by LINK and through other community outlets, which reduces food waste. Community partners also organize food drives, such as those conducted by Scouting for Food, Simple Gesture “Cool Green Bag” collection, and Fairfax County “Stuff the Bus.”

Like the Gospel story of the loaves and fishes, contributions through LINK multiply to touch the lives of thousands of people. Nothing illustrates this better than the response of LINK to the pandemic. In 2019, LINK made 826 deliveries; in 2020, 3474 deliveries, an increase of 321%. With the enormous economic impact of the pandemic, LINK volunteers and donors rose to the challenge to serve community members, even while following COVID health protocols. The high demand has continued, and as people returned to work, recruiting adequate delivery drivers has been difficult. There are many ways to help with LINK activities as indicated on the LINK website.

LINK volunteers strongly believe that assisting those less fortunate with their most basic needs fosters hope and good will among our diverse and fast-growing community. Unconditional love that flows freely is the simplest and purest of all acts.

According to LINK president Lisa Lombardozzi, LINK began as a small group of churches committed to helping the community and fifty years later, we are still committed to that goal. The initial group of churches have grown into a larger group and have recognized that using the resources of our community volunteers will enable us to assist more people. Mother Theresa said, “None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful." “I would want to know that in fifty more years, LINK’s help is no longer needed. But, if it is, I am confident that we will be here to provide support and do so with compassion and love for our neighbors in need,” Lombardozzi said.

LINK personnel can provide additional information.

Lisa Lombardozzi , Link President, lisalombo@signaturecos.com,

Bob Ashdown, Food Pantry Manager, rashdown3@aol.com

Betty Eidemiller, Recording Secretary, bjeide@cox.net,

Information about LINK can be found at http://www.linkagainsthunger.o...