Local Interfaith Coalition Collaborates to Feed the Hungry on 3rd Annual Day to Serve

Local Interfaith Coalition Collaborates to Feed the Hungry on 3rd Annual Day to Serve

by Jessica Slezak

Members of local Muslim, Presbyterian, Baha’i, Baptist, and Latter-day Saint congregations collected food items to benefit community food pantries

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (September 13, 2014) – Fueled by their faith, volunteers from five different religions combined efforts last Saturday, September 14, 2014, to solicit donations for local food banks from the community in honor of the third annual Day to Serve. This effort was made possible by the cooperation and support of Giant and Shoppers Food Warehouse.

Participating congregations included Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center, John Calvin Presbyterian Church, the Baha’i Faith, Ravensworth Baptist Church, and the Annandale, Virginia Stake of the LDS Church. These groups collaborated to benefit food pantries administered by Dar Al Hijrah and Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA).

President Gail Coleman of the Annandale Christian Community of Action (ACCA) said, “ACCA is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Day to Serve and for the gifts of shoppers to our food pantry,” said Gail Coleman, president of the ACCA. “ACCA provides emergency food deliveries to some of the neediest communities in Fairfax County and relies almost exclusively on the generosity of others.”
Volunteers greeted shoppers at the entrances and exits of local grocery stores with flyers detailing the needs of the food bank for which they were soliciting donations. With a steady stream of newcomers to the Northern Virginia region and a challenging economy, local food pantries have depleted reserves of much needed commodities.

Participant Shawna Peterson, a member of the Annandale, Virginia Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said she embraced the opportunity to serve those in need and also used it as a teaching moment for her children.

“I’m always looking for ways for my kids to serve,” Peterson said. “In our kid-centered society, I think it is so beneficial for my kids to spend time thinking about and serving those that are less fortunate. I’m so grateful that [our local food pantry] takes care of those in our community that do not have enough food and for Day to Serve activities that give our children a chance to serve also.”

The Annandale, Virginia LDS Stake reported that it collected 14,000 pounds of food.