LINK Feeds Hundreds of Local Families For Thanksgiving

By Jennifer van der Kleut 

Hundreds of local families that might otherwise have gone hungry this month were able to "shop" for food and groceries on Nov. 16 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon.

Thanks to LINK, a local nonprofit that provides emergency food to people in need in the Herndon, Sterling, and Ashburn communities, more than 800 families—roughly 4,300 individuals—were able to get much-needed food, warm coats and grocery gift cards to help get them through the start of the cold-weather season.

At 8 a.m. on Nov. 16, LINK was ready to receive the first of its 890 registered families.  When the makeshift church supermarkets—at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church, and a "coat store" at Sterling United Methodist Church—closed shortly after 4 p.m., LINK volunteers had served 804 families, or 4,300 individuals.  

Each family received nonperishable groceries to last three to five days, fresh produce, and frozen meat from Capital Area Food Bank. In addition, $21,860 in grocery card gift cards was also distributed, along with 1,880 winter coats, 1,781 pairs of gloves and mittens, and about 1,550 additional winter items.  

Each family member received a coat, gloves or mittens and an additional winter item such as a hat, scarf, sweatshirt or pair of boots.

LINK received 21 walk-ins, or families who did not previously register, but came in desperate need of food. LINK was able to provide these families with nonperishable food items at the end of the day after registered families receive their allotted quantities.

LINK will repeat the process on Saturday, Dec. 14, but instead of distributing coats and clothing, will distribute new toys for the holidays.  

As of this week, LINK needs about 4,000 new toys for children from newborns through 16 years old, and about 45,000 pounds of nonperishables.  

"It is a huge objective, but one God knows we can meet and possibly exceed with help from our community," said Mark Gunderman of LINK.

Around 500 volunteers helped in the week leading up to the Thanksgiving event and on the day of the event. Volunteers helped with food sorting, packing, food delivery, scheduling guest appointments, staffing the guest registration desk and acting as Spanish translators. Other volunteers coordinated the grocery gift cards.

Gunderman said volunteers are needed again to pick up food donations from schools located in the Herndon, Sterling and Ashburn areas and drop them off at either Christ the Redeemer Church or Trinity Presbyterian Church for the upcoming Christmas event between Monday, Dec. 9 and Friday, Dec. 13.  LINK uses electronic volunteer calendars for many positions to make it easy for volunteers to pick times that are convenient for them.

For those who wish to donate food, suggested nonperishable food items especially needed include canned meats such as chicken and ham, peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti sauce, hearty soups and stews, canned fruits, baking mixes, boxed spaghetti, macaroni and other pastas, cereal, and canned or powdered milk. 

Additionally, toilet paper and personal hygiene products such as toothpaste and soap are always needed, he said.

LINK is also in need of baby dolls and toys for small children. The following is a list of recommended gifts that are in need for older children: sporting equipment such as soccer balls, footballs, and basketballs; trendy costume jewelry or handbags; personal hygiene sets for both sexes; hats, scarves and glove sets; backpacks; sleeping bags; board games; chess sets; and DVDs of newly released movies.  

When making donations, one nice toy of around $10 to $20 in value is preferable over many several smaller, inexpensive items.

"We live in a very affluent community and the needy children that receive toys from LINK usually attend school with children that enjoy bountiful Christmas experiences," Gunderman explained.

LINK will also accept cash donations.

If you would like to help by coordinating a food or toy drive within your community, church, neighborhood or business, please contact LINK at
president@linkagainsthunger.org.  

Visit LINK online for more information.