“LINK is a tremendous example of volunteerism in Virginia and can serve as a model to other communities”.
    - Rich Nilsen, Esq., Board Member of “Governor’s Advisory Board On Volunteerism And National Service.”

By Lisa Lombardozzi
LINK President

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do so it as speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” [1 Peter 4: 10-11]

Happy New Year!

As the last guests left Christ the Redeemer Catholic, Trinity Presbyterian and Herndon United Methodist on December 18th, 1,000 volunteers were able to experience God’s grace in their lives. 1,417 families received assistance from LINK in November and December. This number represents a little over 7,000 individuals who received groceries for 5 – 7 days (totaling 100,000 lbs.), over $37,000 in grocery gift cards, 1,170 gently-used winter coats & clothing, two new toys for 1,800 children newborn through 16 years of age, and almost 1,000 pounds of frozen beef.

Also included in these numbers are 182 families who were not registered, but came for help as Walk-ins. LINK also provided direct delivery to 91 families who were unable to pick up their food due to being home-bound. It should be noted that almost 98% of LINK’s guests register for both November & December and are counted twice in these numbers.

You might wonder how LINK was able to receive over 100,000 pounds of Non-perishable food items, over 1,100 winter coats, almost 4,000 new toys, 1,000 pounds of frozen roast, chops, hamburger, ribs, round steak and soup bones, fresh bread for every family, 1,500 cardboard boxes, 5,000 grocery bags and much more. We were only able to share God’s abundance through the donations we received from Boy & Girl Scouts, 31 schools (both public and private), civic organizations, local businesses, churches and individuals.

People read about LINK’s needs in local papers and websites and called and emailed to offer food, clothing, toys and money. Word did spread throughout neighborhoods, co-workers, schools and churches and again more people would call to provide assistance.

LINK experienced a surge this year in guests calling to register for assistance, but that surge was matched by volunteers calling and emailing to help out. LINK increased the number of guests registered by almost 15% from last year. Our volunteer numbers increased by that amount and more! We couldn’t have provided assistance to over 1,400 families without our volunteers. Volunteers sorted food, clothing and toys, acted as interpreters, served as escorts; helped guests load their food into vehicles, transported food, clothing & toys from schools, businesses and churches, worked the registration desks and phone lines and remained at the end of the day to clean up.

Men at Work LINK volunteers take a quick photo opportunity break from loading guest vehicles with groceries during Christmas event at Christ the Redeemer Catholic in Sterling.  Volunteers were needed to handle the steady flow of 50 family pick-ups an hour from 8 am until 3 pm. Photo courtesy of LINK.

I would like to thank the LINK Executive Board for their leadership, all of the church reps who help disseminate our program requirements through their congregations and parishes and the LINK mini managers who take on the smaller yet important tasks of keeping the LINK wheels turning. Also thank you to the ever vigilant volunteers who come every year to ensure these holiday events are a huge success. You are each an important part of the Body of Christ. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” [1 Corinthians 12:12]

God bless each of you!

For many organizations, the process would now be over. However LINK continues to provide grocery deliveries on an emergency basis, 52 weeks a year to families living in the Herndon, Sterling and Ashburn areas. A rotating pantry manager oversees the week long efforts, as food coordinators and food packers determine and prepare the deliveries each day. Volunteers retrieve the calls from needy people and pack the food. Food is delivered to up to four families a day Tuesdays through Saturdays by volunteers. LINK is an all volunteer organization and depends on a large number of caring folks to keep the process flowing. 17 affiliated churches make up the backbone of LINK, but many other organizations and individuals assist LINK with their daily outreach efforts.

In 2010, LINK volunteers made 873 direct to home deliveries, providing food for 3,889 people. $17,880.00 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. 

A network of volunteers routinely collects food from grocery stores, bakeries, and restaurants. These items are distributed to families but also through other distribution points in the community, including Embry Rucker Shelter, Good Shepherd Alliance Shelters, Grace Ministries at Floris United Methodist Church, Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, The Closet, William Watters Adult Living House, Kendrick Court Senior Apartments, Cascade Village Senior Apartments, Loudoun County shelters, and the senior centers in Herndon and Sterling. LINK works with The Closet in Herndon and the Good Shepherd Alliance Thrift Store in Sterling to provide clothing needs for clients, and coordinates services with other programs in the community.

Toys Galore Toy distribution at Herndon United Methodist Church (HUMC) on Bennett Street moved briskly as 1,800 children, newborn through 16 years of age received 2 toys each totaling 3,600 toys. A huge number of volunteers supported this event from 8 am until 4 pm at the Sawyer Center DOE Fellowship Hall. Photo is courtesy of LINK.

A listing of some of the LINK donors is as follows: Costco (regional offices), NEW Customer Service Companies, National Reconnaissance Office, Fairfax County Police Motorcycle Division, World Vision, Federal Children’s Center, Herndon Observer, Loudoun Independent, Wal-Mart, Right Now Technologies, Scouting for Food, various Girl Scout troops, Safeway, Wegman’s, Chipotle, Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter, St. Veronica’s School, Our Lady of Hope School, Weight Watchers, HUMC Preschool, Herndon High Spanish Honor Society and SGA, Airbus, Booz Allen Hamilton, Community Lutheran Mitten Tree, The Family Christian Bookstores, Sterling United Methodist, St. Joseph Parish CCD program and school, Kids Under Construction preschool, Blue Ridge Meats, Hunters for the Hungry, Bane Family, Cavalier Logistics, Griffin-Owens Insurance and Great Harvest Bread Company, The Association For Manufacturing Technology, Herndon Woman’s Club, Political leaders, NOVA-NFL-Youth Flag Football League, Rainbow Station Childcare Center, Stone Bridge HS FBLA Club, Upper Loudoun Youth Football League, Town of Herndon Employees, Humanity Institute for Children & Families, PolyCom, United Healthcare, and STJ, Inc.

If you would like to find out more about LINK, visit our website http://www.linkagainsthunger.org or call 703-437-1776.

LINK Member Churches
Christ the Redeemer Catholic
Community Lutheran
Dranesville Church of the Brethren
Herndon United Methodist
Oak Grove Baptist
St. Joseph’s Catholic
St. Matthew’s Episcopal
St. Timothy’s Episcopal
Sterling Park Baptist
Sterling Park Christian
Sterling United Methodist
Trinity Presbyterian

“FRIENDS OF LINK” Affiliated Churches
Guilford Fellowship
Holy Cross Lutheran
Potomac Baptist
Riverside Presbyterian
St. Veronica Catholic