To assist with emergency food needs resulting from the
coronavirus pandemic, the volunteer food pantry at Holy Family Church in Dale
City is working with Prince William County to dramatically expand its food
distribution capacity.
The pantry has been tapped to serve as one of the 12 “spokes” of
the county’s Emergency Food Distribution Network, a change that took effect
April 20, said church volunteer George “Digger” Smith, who coordinates pantry
operations.
The county recently began making weekly food deliveries to the
pantry to provide supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The pantry also continues to rely on its existing supply chain, which includes
the St. Lucy Food Project, run by diocesan Catholic Charities, Smith said.
Pantry activities have moved out of their small storage closets
and taken over the school gymnasium and kitchen, so volunteers can spread out to
allow an appropriate distance while gathering and packing food for clients.
Smith estimates the recent changes will allow the pantry to serve approximately
400 to 500 adults and children a week — four times the number it could serve in
the past.
“Ever since COVID came up, we have been adapting ourselves to
continue to serve while being respectful of distancing” needs, said Holy
Family pastor, Father Wilson I. Korpi. Clients call in advance to explain their
family size and what they need, and “we bring baskets of food out to
them and try to keep our distance as best we can. Everybody is appropriately
masked and gloved.”
At a time when more county residents face economic pressures
caused by the pandemic, there has been a steep decline in the amount of food
donated by parishioners, Smith said.
To make it safe and easy to donate without having to go to the
grocery store, Holy Family has created an Amazon “wish list” to allow
parishioners and community members to purchase urgently needed items online and
have them shipped directly to the church, without having to leave their homes.
The pantry is staffed largely by Holy Family parishioners and the
John Paul I Council of the Knights of Columbus. Community members from the
Volunteer Prince William organization also assist, for a total of about 35
people, said Smith, a retired engineer who is prepared for the long haul.
“I expect that keeping people fed is going to be a challenge
that lasts well beyond the medical impact of the pandemic,” he said.
Urgent pantry needs, listed in the parish bulletin, include
Jell-O, canned tuna, canned pasta, hearty soup, canned fruit, complete pancake
mix, pancake syrup, saltine crackers, ramen noodles, Tuna Helper, Chicken
Helper, Hamburger Helper and breakfast cereal. Other requested items include
tomato spaghetti sauce, pasta, vegetable oil, boxed potatoes, rice in 1-2 lb.
bags, rice mixes, onions, oranges and Clementine tangerines.
Find out more
Food pantry office hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10
a.m.-2 p.m. The appointment line is 703/730-1791.
Food distribution hours: Monday and Wednesdays, 4-6:30
p.m., and first and third Saturdays of the month, 9:30 a.m.-noon.
Donate online: Holy Family Amazon “Wish List”
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3R5COAKMNO2ZN?ref=cm_sw_em_r_wl_dp_YbyclU7bxQocm
