St. Lucy Food Project combats food insecurity in Northern Virginia

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — On Sunday, neighbors came together at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Springfield to give back to the Northern Virginia community and help combat food insecurity.

The St. Lucy Food Project, which is the Catholic Charities’ food assistance program for the Diocese of Arlington, collected food donations and hygiene products at the church on Sunday morning as part of its greater initiative to feed “the hungry” and “nourish the soul.”

According to the Diocese of Arlington, 9.2% of people in Fairfax County were food insecure in 2023, affecting over 100,000 residents across major cities such as Springfield, Chantilly, Centreville, Annandale, and others.

From 2022 to 2023, Fairfax County also saw a .6% increase in food insecurity, the Diocese noted.

“We have seen a[n]… increased need in our communities for food and hygiene items due to a variety of factors like increased populations, food and hygiene prices rising, rent and utility bills rising, and others,” said James McCaskey, Catholic Charities St Lucy Food Project Outreach Specialist

To help fight food insecurity, the St. Lucy Food Project is asking for people to donate the following food items:

• Canned Meat
• Jelly (no glass)
• Peanut Butter
• Canned Pasta (Chef Boyardee)
• Pasta Sauce (no glass)

Top needed hygiene products include:

• Standard Size Tide Laundry Detergent
• Poise Pads
• Adult Diapers with no tabs (Sizes M, L, XL)
• Individually wrapped toothbrushes
• Deodorant
• Shampoo

Missed Sunday’s donation drive? No problem, Catholic Charities’ St Lucy Food Project is scheduled to host the following upcoming drives:

• 8/31- St. Veronica, Chantilly
• 9/14- Basilica of St. Mary, Alexandria City
• 9/14- Christ the Redeemer, Sterling
• 9/21- St. Raymond, Springfield
• 9/28- All Saints, Manassas
• 9/28- St. Ann, Arlington
• 10/4- St. James, Falls Church
• 10/5- Fort Belvoir, Fort Belvoir
• 10/12- St. Joseph, Herndon
• 10/19- Holy Family, Woodbridge
• 10/19- St. Louis, Alexandria (Fairfax County)
• 10/25- Church of the Nativity, Burke
• 10/26- Holy Trinity, Gainesville
• 11/2- Corpus Christi, Aldie
• 11/2- St. Ambrose, Annandale
• 11/9- St. Michael, Annandale
• 11/9- St. Veronica, Chantilly
• 11/9- St. John the Evangelist, Warrenton
• 11/15- St. Agnes, Arlington
• 11/16- St. Andrew the Apostle, Clifton
• 11/17 through 11/21- PVI, Chantilly
• 11/21- St. James, Falls Church
  • Trivia night. Hygiene Donations are the entry fee

Click here for the hygiene products and food items wish lists.