Parishioners at Church of the Nativity in Burke contributed
12,584 pounds of food to the St. Lucy Food Project July 24 in what the parish
called its biggest food drive of the year.
Nativity organizers used a “drive-by, drop-off” no-contact model
for safe food drives, with volunteers wearing masks and following social
distancing guidelines.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge was on-site with Father Robert
Cilinski, Nativity’s pastor, to encourage volunteers and staff and greet parishioners
and community members dropping off food.
Diocesan Catholic Charities said it counted 20,917 visits to its
pantries or partners since March, a 154 percent increase from the same period
in 2019.
The St. Lucy Food Project supplies food to families served by three
Catholic Charities pantries: Loaves and Fishes in Front Royal, Christ House in
Alexandria and the Leesburg regional office in Leesburg, as well as more than
60 parish, interfaith, government and community pantries across the diocese.
