FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington’s St. Lucy Food Project
Donated 5,000 Pounds of Food in Front of Alexandria’s City Hall
to Help Address Hunger
Donation is Part of Ongoing Effort to Help Those in Need in Alexandria
ARLINGTON, VA. – On
October 16, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington’s St. Lucy Food
Project donated 5,000 pounds
of non-perishable food to ALIVE! in front of Alexandria’s City Hall. The St.
Lucy Food Project and ALIVE! are both members of Hunger Free Alexandria (HFA),
a community-based coalition of
food providers, faith-based communities, schools, and social service
organizations aimed at ending hunger. The donation, made in conjunction with HFA, is part of Catholic Charities’
ongoing efforts to address hunger in Alexandria.
“There is a great
deal of need in our communities. Often individuals can find themselves in
situations where they no longer know where their next meal will come from,”
said Art Bennett, President of CEO, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of
Arlington. “We make every effort to help people get back on their feet,
through food and clothing donations, workforce training and similar service
ministries. These services are at the
core of our mission and commitment to the community.”
Catholic Charities
collects and distributes 1.2 million pounds of food annually to those in need
throughout the 21 counties of the Diocese through its St. Lucy Food Project.
Some 130,000 pounds of food are distributed locally from its Christ House
ministry in Old Town Alexandria. Christ House also offers emergency
assistance, a clothing ministry, thrift store and transitional housing and
workforce development to homeless men. Catholic Charities has served an evening
meal to homeless men and women at Christ House 365 days a year for more than 40
years. ALIVE! has been delivering food
to the homebound within the city of Alexandria since 1969.
“Donating this
amount of food in one delivery is just an incredible experience,” said Vincent
A. Cannava (pictured), Program Director and Food Source Developer, St. Lucy
Food Project, Catholic Charities. “What
you see is the result of countless parishes across the diocese offering food to
those in need. There are a lot of people who will not go to bed hungry as a
result of their generosity.”
For additional
information on the St. Lucy Project, click here.
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Catholic Charities of
the Diocese of Arlington serves the poor and vulnerable who live within the 21
counties and seven cities of the Diocese of Arlington, which is led by Bishop
Michael F. Burbidge. Catholic Charities provides food for the hungry, a
free medical clinic for adults including prenatal care, adoption services,
transformational housing for the homeless, mental health counseling, emergency
financial assistance, prison ministry, workforce development and immigration
and refugee services. Catholic Charities serves all, regardless of faith. www.ccda.net.