Twenty years ago, House of Mercy began as a prayer group handing out peanut butter sandwiches to the homeless.
Today, the Manassas ministry, founded by Kelli Ross and the late Father John Noel “Jack” Fullen, gives out more food than any other pantry in Prince William County. The nonprofit has a food pantry, a thrift store and a mobile pantry to deliver food to the homebound. The 25 staff members and 1,000 volunteers serve 80-100 food pantry clients a day.
“Jesus (told) his disciples to cast out into the deep and that’s exactly what happened 20 years ago with the founders of the House of Mercy,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge at the Mass for the House of Mercy’s 20th Anniversary. “They had a vision of how we could be effective in carrying out the works of mercy, especially for our brothers and sisters in most need. Most likely, they did not have all the details figured out, or all the dots connected, but they trusted in Jesus. How beautiful to know that this ministry is rooted in faith, and trust in God and what he can do for us when we give ourselves to him.”
Around 160 supporters of the mission gathered for the April 10 Mass in the thrift store, which features a Lourdes-inspired grotto and water fountain. The House of Mercy facility spans an entire building of an office park, with a pantry, thrift store, donation center, a walk-in refrigerator and freezer and private rooms for client intake meetings. The thrift store funds the food pantry, but also gives the clients a place to shop for clothes for free.
Respecting the dignity of every individual is at the heart of the House of Mercy, said Jessica Root, executive director. Everyone is welcome to receive food regardless of their income, immigration status or where they live. But they also meet with new clients to better understand what brought them to the ministry and how they can best be served. “We’re super welcoming,” she said. “We’re trying to build relationships with our clients and see what they truly need so they don’t need us anymore.”
Feeding the hungry and clothing the naked are the works of mercy at the heart of the nonprofit, but House of Mercy does so much more, said Paul Marsala, president of the board of directors and parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville. “We provide an opportunity to feed people, clothe people, (provide) someplace for people to donate things, a place for people to volunteer, to give of their time, talent and treasure, and also a place where younger people and older people can get employed as a hand-up as well,” he said. Members of the Legion of Mary are on site to speak to clients about the faith, said Vicky Marsala, who serves alongside her husband as a member of the board and as a food pantry volunteer. When needed, House of Mercy assists with funerals.
House of Mercy also hosts seasonal events, such as the Back to School supplies drive or Christmas with Mercy, an event where parents pick out new gifts for their children. “Sometimes they’re in tears, they’re so happy that we could help them and that they’re treated with dignity — that’s always brought up by a lot of the clients,” said Vicky.
The couple has supported House of Mercy for 12 years, and they’ve seen the tremendous growth of the ministry through good times and bad. “Every time we think we’re going to have to close the doors, it just never happens,” said Paul. “God wants it to be here,” said Vicky.
Maraist is a freelancer from Reston.
Find out more
For ways to support the House of Mercy, go to houseofmercyva.org.
