Catholic Charities In Immediate Need Of Food Donations In NoVA

ALEXANDRIA, VA — In light of an immediate need for food donations, the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington put out a call for help to the community.

St. Lucy Food Project is the food assistance program serving the diocese. Assistance goes out to the community through three Catholic Charities pantries: Christ House in Alexandria, Loaves and Fishes in Front Royal, and the Leesburg Regional Office in Leesburg. In addition, around 57 parish, interfaith, community and government pantries within the 21 counties and seven cities in the diocese help with the program.

Despite support from the community and parishes, the food assistance project has seen food donations drop by 45 percent. According to Vincent Cannava, program director at St. Lucy Food Project, the warehouse for the food assistance program is almost empty.

But the need for food continues to be high during the pandemic. Since March, the St. Lucy Food Project has distributed 935,464 pounds of food to more than 14,500 people through the 60 food pantries throughout the Diocese.

"The number of families we are seeing who need food assistance increased rapidly during the pandemic, and we have not seen the need subside," said Art Bennett, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington. "The economic toll the pandemic continues to take on our communities is significant. We thank those who have given so generously over the last seven months, and now we urge anyone able to donate food, or funds to purchase food, do so in an effort to meet this pressing need."

There are a number of ways to donate. Food can be brought to the three food pantries during business hours: Christ House, 131 S. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314 (weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Leesburg Regional Office, 316 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176 (Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, 613 N. Royal Ave., Front Royal, VA 22630 (weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.).

Food can be brought to the St. Lucy Food Project warehouse, 8426-28 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110, at a "no contact" bin 24/7. Food can be ordered from the St. Lucy Food Project Amazon wish list and sent directly to the Manassas warehouse. If you can't donate food, make a contribution online or mail a check donation payable to CCDA with St. Lucy Project on the memo line to Catholic Charities 8426-28 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110.

There are also no-contact food drop off events at local parishes. Below is the schedule of upcoming drop off events.

• Oct. 24: All Saints, Manassas, No-Contact Drive-Thru Food Drive (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Oct. 24 and 25: St. Theresa, Ashburn, Monthly Food Collection
• Oct. 30: St. Luke Catholic Church, McLean, No Contact Drive-Thru Food Drive (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
• Oct. 30: St. Rita Catholic Church, Alexandria, No Contact Drive-Thru Food Drive (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Nov. 7: St. Catherine of Siena, Great Falls, No Contact Drive-Thru Food Drive
• Nov. 7 and 8: St. William of York, Stafford, No Contact Drive-Thru Food Drive (after each mass)
• Nov. 7 and 8: Our Lady of Hope, Potomac Falls, Monthly Food Collection
• Nov. 7 and 8: St. Andrew the Apostle, Clifton, Thanksgiving Meal Food Drive (after each mass)
• Nov. 7 and 8: St. John the Baptist, Front Royal, No-Contact Food Drive (after each mass)
• Nov. 7-11: Holy Family, Woodbridge, No Contact Food Drive (after each mass and drive-thru Monday to Wednesday)
• Nov. 14: Nativity, Burke, No Contact Drive-Thru Food Drive (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Nov. 14 and 15: St. Francis de Sales, Purcellville, Monthly Food Collection
• Nov. 15: Good Shepherd, Alexandria, Monthly Food Collection (food bin inside)

Needed foods include non-perishable items like canned fruits and vegetables, boxed or bagged cereal, rice and pasta, pasta sauce, cooking oil, bread, non-refrigerated juice, peanut butter, and canned chicken and fish or tuna.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.