It’s mid-morning at the vast Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project warehouse in Manassas. The energy level is high, as a dozen staff and volunteers gear up to provide food for more than 75 pantries throughout the diocese from the Shenandoah Valley to the Northern Neck.
The Manassas warehouse is the central distribution hub that delivers to all pantries, including the three operated by diocesan Catholic Charities in Sterling, Front Royal and Alexandria.
The scene in the warehouse is one of constant motion as men and women of diverse ages work together like a team preparing for a big game.
“We’ve had several furloughed federal employees come to give their time very self-sacrificially,” said Ian Radel, St. Food Project volunteer manager. “They’re living out what Christ calls them to be. It’s very beautiful.”
After the federal government shutdown Oct. 1 and the Nov. 1 defunding of SNAP — the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for low-income households — many are struggling to provide basic necessities for their families. “Since the information about SNAP went out, the numbers have been expanding very fast,” said Sherri Longhill, Catholic Charities director of community services. “We’re just now starting to get a handle on who’s coming and recently we’ve heard people say it’s because they’re losing their SNAP benefits.”
Longhill said the impact for the first four weeks of the shutdown was like a slow drip as government employees began feeling the squeeze of not getting a paycheck. The situation now is much worse and Catholic Charities Emergency Financial Assistance Ministry is stepping into the gap to help clients pay rent and utility bills.
“It’s for both furloughed contractors and laid-off government workers who are experiencing a crisis,” said Longhill, stipulating that applicants will need to provide a letter demonstrating they were furloughed. “We’re probably going to be inundated, but we’ll do our best to help the people with the money that we have.”
To qualify, applicants must send an email to [email protected]. They will receive a screening questionnaire with instructions. A case coordinator will then call the applicant to expedite the process. The program is still in place and will continue as long as applicants meet eligibility requirements.
“Many of our brothers and sisters who work for the federal government reside in the Diocese of Arlington,” said Stephen Carattini, president and CEO of diocesan Catholic Charities. “It’s important that they know that the church, through Catholic Charities, is here to help them. They are not alone.”
For the thousands in need who aren’t contractors or government employees, Catholic Charities is doing what the government can’t do to assist anyone experiencing food insecurity.
“People come here with kids and babies asking for food,” said Belquis Sadozai, St. Lucy Project food scheduler. “It’s very sad. We help everyone regardless of color, religion, gender, everything. This is a tough time.”
Despite the strain of the added work, volunteers labor side-by-side with a cheerful spirit, sorting groceries into large bins, stocking shelves and organizing deliveries. “I’ve been calling around to the different pantries, and they all say, ‘If only we had more room in our refrigerator, we would take it all,’ ” said volunteer Sally Ewalt. “There’s a big demand for fresh vegetables.”
Pequitte Schwerin, who retired 18 years ago from the U.S. Air Force, is the designated volunteer who goes to St. John Bosco Church in Woodstock once a month to distribute hygiene products. “People aren’t allowed to buy clothes, shampoo and laundry detergent with EBT cards,” she said, referring to the debit-like cards used by SNAP recipients. “Last month, we helped 93 people and that’s a big increase. People just don’t have the money for the extras to give them clean clothing so they can go to work interviews and that sort of thing.”
Amid hardship, James McCaskey, St. Lucy Food Project senior outreach specialist, said he sees reason for hope. “St. Ambrose (Annandale) and Corpus Christi (Aldie) churches donated over a thousand pounds more than they did last year in their food drives,” he said. “While we’re seeing this increased need, we’re also seeing responses from the churches and from the Holy Spirit.”
“We have been preparing for this surge in need,” said Vincent Cannava, St. Lucy Food Project program director. “We will have enough food to serve everyone thanks to the generosity of our parishioner, student, and commercial donors. However, we must keep our attention on the medium to long term and ensure we have food for the winter months and beyond.”
Radel’s team of volunteers gladly accepts the challenge of going the extra mile. “These selfless individuals have been willing to sacrifice their time to give back to the community,” he said. “It’s the purest act of love that Christ calls us to.”
Find out more
Fresh produce is in high demand at all pantries. See donation instructions at bit.ly/4oTAtat.
