Many parishes and groups in the Arlington diocese participated in Thanksgiving collections or volunteered during the Thanksgiving holidays to provide holiday dinners for families in need. Among efforts around the diocese:
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At Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in Arlington, volunteers distributed more than 700 Thanksgiving food bags to families Nov. 22. The annual effort is supported by donations from parishioners, friends and neighbors.
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At Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna, volunteers organized and delivered about 300 dinner baskets to local schools and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul clients as part of the parish’s eighth annual Thanksgiving dinner drive. The baskets included trimmings for a Thanksgiving meal for a family of six, plus additional pantry items and a $25 gift card to purchase a turkey and other fresh foods.
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The Knights of Columbus Father Julius J. Cilinski Council 10947 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton partnered with the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries Food Pantry to conduct a Thanksgiving food drive that collected more than $5,700 in donations and $170 in gift cards, providing nearly 200 meals for families in need. Knights from three parishes participated: St. Andrew the Apostle, St. Clare of Assisi in Clifton and St. Jude Syro-Malabar Church in Chantilly.
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Bishop Michael F. Burbidge was among volunteers who helped distribute meals at Christ House Shelter in Alexandria Nov. 24.
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At St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Fredericksburg, volunteers organized a drive-thru food distribution Nov. 23 to benefit Afghan refugees. The church worked with diocesan Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services to serve around 100 families.
