Health & Fitness
LINK Seeks Donors, Volunteers and Winter Clothing/Coats for Holiday Programs
We need volunteers who are bilingual and speak Spanish (teenagers are also welcome) to volunteer the day of the Holiday Programs (Nov. 17 and Dec. 15).
Special LINK Update by Lisa Lombardozzi, LINK President
We are in desperate need of children’s coats and winter clothes!
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Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land” (Deuteronomy 15:11).
There are 923 million people who do not have access to enough food to eat globally – more than the populations of the USA, Canada, and the European Union (Source: U.N. World Food Program 2009). In direct opposition, there is enough food available globally to provide at least 4.3 pounds of food per person daily. Hunger also exists in our own communities.
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In Fairfax County, 24% of the children attending school qualify for free and reduced lunch. In Loudoun County, 16% qualify for free and reduced lunch. Our hungry population extends to our senior citizens as well. We are seeking civic groups, churches, businesses and schools to partner with LINK to help provide food for our needy families this year. Won’t you consider coordinating a Food Drive, Used Winter Coat Drive, New Toy Drive, and/or Volunteering to help?
On Sept. 30th, LINK celebrated its 40th anniversary with board members, volunteers, church leaders, elected officials, friends and some of the original volunteers who helped establish LINK in the summer of 1972. It was a grand turnout and everyone enjoyed having a chance to visit and share stories. In addition, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized LINK’s service to the community on October 16, 2012 with a formal Resolution. Delegate Tom Rust (R-Herndon) introduced House Joint Resolution 416 and the Virginia Assembly (House and Senate) signed a Commending Resolution HJ 416 also honoring LINK’s 40th Anniversary of service excellence to the community.
LINK is an all-volunteer non-profit coalition of churches and community organizations providing emergency food assistance to needy families in Herndon, Sterling and Ashburn. Our motivations are rooted in spirit, mercy and responsibility to others.
LINK provides hundreds of families with various kinds of support during a typical calendar year. Supplying emergency nonperishable food to local people in need is the main ministry of LINK. The organization delivers food to the homes of approximately 80 families (about 300 people) per month in the Herndon, Sterling and Ashburn communities, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year. In 2011, LINK volunteers made 887 deliveries, providing food for 4,435 people; $19,020 in grocery gift certificates was also included with these deliveries. Guests request assistance through a direct phone line, referrals are made through social services staff, and our volunteers also work with the public schools to assist families with school children. Each qualified family is given about five day’s supply of non-perishable food and a certificate to purchase perishable food.
During Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2011, LINK served an additional 1,758 families through our Holiday Program. This number represents a little over 8,900 individuals who received food for 5 – 7 days, over $49,000 in grocery gift cards, gently-used winter coats and clothing, two new toys for children newborn through 16 years of age and fresh bread.
Below is more information on our Holiday Program for 2012:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2012
Food Distribution, 8 am – 2 pm
• Locations: Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church (46833 Harry Byrd Highway, Sterling, VA 20164) and Trinity Presbyterian (651 Dranesville Road, Herndon, VA 20170)
Winter Coat Distribution, 8 am – 3 pm
• Location: Sterling United Methodist Church (304 East Church Road, Sterling, VA 20164). We are in need of children’s coats in particular this year – even one or two coats will make a difference!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2012
Food Distribution, 8 am – 2 pm
• Locations: Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church (46833 Harry Byrd Highway, Sterling, VA 20164) and Trinity Presbyterian (651 Dranesville Road, 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.
• Coats – Donations of new or gently-used winter coats, scarves, mittens, hats can be dropped off at Sterling United Methodist Church from Nov. 12th – 16th, 8:30 am – 8:30 pm, and Nov. 17th from 8:30 am – 1:00 pm.
• Toys – Donations of new toys can be dropped off at Herndon United Methodist Church from Dec. 10th – 15th, 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 welcome) to volunteer the day of the Holiday Programs (Nov. 17 and Dec. 15).
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
To volunteer; you can register online or send an email to Becky Field-Ross (fieldross@aol.com ) our Volunteer Coordinator.
To sign up, go to: www.linkagainsthunger.org
Volunteer Dates & Hours
NOVEMBER
Monday, Nov. 12 – Sorting from 9 am – 12 pm; 7 pm – 9 pm at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church
Tuesday, Nov. 13 – closed
Wednesday, Nov. 14 – closed
Thursday, Nov. 15 - Sorting from 9 am – 12 pm; 7 pm – 9 pm at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church
Friday, Nov. 16 – Sorting from 9 am until finished at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church
Saturday, Nov. 17 – 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. 12 and Friday, Nov. 16.
DECEMBER
Monday, Dec. 10 – Sorting from 9 am – 12 pm; 7 pm – 9 pm at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church
Tuesday, Dec. 11 – closed
Wednesday, Dec. 12 – closed
Thursday, Dec. 13 - Sorting from 9 am – 12 pm; 7 pm – 9 pm at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church
Friday, Dec. 14 – Sorting from 9 am until finished at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church
Saturday, Dec. 15 – 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, Dec. 10 and Friday, Dec. 14.
Contact Information
Holiday Basket Program Coordinator
Lisa Lombardozzi
703-973-4444
LisaLombo@signaturecos.com
Volunteer Coordinator
Becky Field-Ross
703-434-9099
fieldross@aol.com (prefers emails)
"But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress" (Philippians 4:10-14).
