Mobile Hope Collects Donations For Herndon Apartment Fire Victims

HERNDON, VA — Every Friday for the last two years, Mobile Hope has dropped off perishable and non-perishable food to people in-need around the region, including two stops in Herndon, as part of its Listen for the Honk outreach.

"Since COVID-19 started, we've handed out over 15 million pounds of food," said Donna Fortier, CEO and founder of the Leesburg-based nonprofit. "I think we've served over 250,000 family members."

But this Friday was different. Mobile Hope added a third stop to its Herndon outreach, dropping off food and toiletries for families displaced by Thursday night's fire at the Park Avenue Apartments.

"We received a call yesterday in the evening about families being displaced," Fortier said. "And so we just kind of rallied and just added that stop to that specific neighborhood this morning."

Mobile Hope is partnering with the Herndon Police Department to collect items for the victims of the fire. Members of the public are invited to drop off the following items at donations boxes in the lobby of police headquarters, which is located at 397 Herndon Parkway:

• Gift cards - grocery stores, Target, Walmart
• Personal hygiene items (adult and child)
• New clothing and undergarments (adult and child)
• Activities - coloring books/crayons, small toys and games, books and magazines
• Diapers
• Pajamas
• Coats

"It's important for them to see their neighbors reaching out to help them and I think there's a lot of concern about what's going to happen, especially right before the holidays," Fortier said. "We're all working to ensure that kids get presents. It's sad. We should all just count our blessings and give back when we can."

Donations can also be made at the Mobile Hope website.

Thank you to all who have asked what is needed for the families displaced by last night's Park Avenue Apartments fire. We have donation boxes. Please see the list as to what is most needed. Your donations will go directly to the families affected. THANK YOU! #herndonpd #herndonva pic.twitter.com/wbSrdIBlI0
— Herndon Police (@HerndonPolice) December 3, 2021