LINK to Feed 4,000 on November 16

“Give and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” - Luke 6:38

LINK President, Lisa Lombardozzi reported that the in-person registration for the holiday food distribution program on Saturday, November 16 is now complete.  Appointments for 870 families totaled 4,300 people.  LINK will turn churches into makeshift supermarkets and a clothing store providing guests with groceries for 5 – 7 days, a grocery gift card and gently-used winter coats and other winter clothing items.

LINK is a tale of two counties as businesses, churches, civic organizations and schools in both western Fairfax and eastern Loudoun continue to donate generously.  Established in 1972, LINK is one of the “all volunteer” emergency support organizations in Northern Virginia.  LINK delivers groceries directly to the homes of needy families by request on a daily basis and during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, manages large distribution programs on the church sites.  The organization is comprised of 14 member churches (consisting of Baptist, Brethren and Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and non-denominational churches) in Herndon, Sterling and Chantilly united in a common cause to provide food, grocery gift certificates and financial assistance to qualified people in need 52 weeks a year.

Over 1,000 volunteers will be needed to collect and pre-stage the food and clothes at the four area churches during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Volunteers coordinate the whole event, contacting schools and social workers, comparing recipient lists with other agencies, scheduling guest appointments, managing the ever changing volunteer shifts, staffing the guest registration desk and providing Spanish translators.  Volunteers work with the school listing, maintain the web site and the data collection process.  Volunteers managed the task of getting packers, bags, drivers, addresses, and families all matched together and ensured there was breakfast and lunch at the break rooms.  Other volunteers handle the grocery gift cards.  Food coordinators field all the phone calls and email requests.  The Boy and Girl Scouts collect tons of food. 

LINK retains no paid employees, maintains no office and owns no vehicles.  Volunteers do all the work and most goods are received from local donations.  Similar to the Gospel story of the loaves and fish LINK touches the lives of thousands of people with an annual budget of less than $86,000.00.  LINK’s Campaign Participant Combined Federal Campaign Number is 78589 and the United Way Number is 9648.

November 16, 2013

Food Distribution, 8 am – 2 pm

Locations: Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church (46833 Harry Byrd Hwy., Sterling, VA 20164) and Trinity Presbyterian (651 Dranesville Rd., Herndon, VA 20170)

Winter Coat Distribution, 8 am – 3 pm

Location: Sterling United Methodist Church (304 East Church Road, Sterling, Virginia 20164)

December 14, 2013

Food Distribution, 8 am – 2 pm

Locations: Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church (46833 Harry Byrd Hwy., Sterling, VA 20164) and Trinity Presbyterian (651 Dranesville Rd., Herndon, VA 20170)

Toy Distribution, 8 am – 2 pm

Location: Herndon United Methodist Church (701 Bennett St., Herndon VA 20170) Families will receive a ticket from the food pick-up location to be used to pick up toys.

Donations Needed

Food – Donations of non-perishable food can be dropped off during the sorting hours listed below at either Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church or Trinity Presbyterian Church. Top Food needs - Jelly, soup, canned tuna, bagged rice, bagged beans, pudding and jello mix, canned fruit, chili, hamburger helper, canned pasta, and mac & cheese.

Coats – Donations of new or gently-used winter coats, sweaters, scarves, mittens, hats can be dropped off at Sterling United Methodist Church from Nov. 10th – 15th, 8:30 am – 8:30 pm, and Nov. 16th from 8:30 am – 1:00 pm.

Toys – Donations of new toys can be dropped off at Herndon United Methodist Church from Dec. 9th – 14th, 9 am – 3 pm.

Monetary Donations – Donations can be sent to: LINK, PO Box 443, Sterling, VA 20167-0443. If you want the donation dedicated to a certain purpose, please include that in the memo line.

Translators Needed – We need volunteers who are bilingual and speak Spanish (teenagers are also welcomed) to volunteer the day of the Holiday Programs (Nov. 16 and Dec. 14).

Boxes Needed – we typically need 500 empty boxes for both the November & December basket programs. Boxes should be approximately 18x12x15 in size. They will be loaded with heavy canned goods, so a smaller size box is better.

Volunteers Needed – If you need more info regarding volunteering, send an email to fieldross@aol.com.  Please visit our website at http://www.linkagainsthunger.org/

Volunteer Dates & Hours

November –

Monday, Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) – Sorting from 9 am – 12 pm; 7 pm – 9 pm at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church

Tuesday, Nov. 12 – Sorting from 7 pm – 9 pm at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church

Wednesday, Nov. 13 – closed

Thursday, Nov. 14 - Sorting from 9 am – 12 pm; 7 pm – 9 pm at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church

Friday, Nov. 15 – Sorting from 9 am until finished at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church

Saturday, Nov. 16 –

Volunteers to help re-stock food, assist families, act as translators, and clean-up, 7:30 am – 4 pm at Christ the Redeemer Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church

Drivers to help deliver food to people who are home-bound, 9 am – 12 pm at Trinity Presbyterian Church

NOTE: Volunteers are also needed to pick up food donations from schools during school hours located in Herndon, Sterling and Ashburn area and drop it off at either Christ the Redeemer or Trinity Presbyterian between Monday, Nov. 11 and Friday, Nov. 15.