Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Catholic Diocese Of Arlington, To Participate In Ribbon Cutting And Bless New Food Pantry In Sterling, VA., This Friday, April 16

Pantry Bridges Gap for Food Insecure in Loudoun County; Site to Offer Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance, Adoption Services, and Legal Services for Immigrants and Refugees 

ARLINGTON, Va. - On Friday, April 16, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, will participate in a ribbon cutting and bless Catholic Charities' new Loudoun Regional Office (LRO) and food pantry in Sterling, Va. The LRO and pantry relocated from its longtime Leesburg, Va., location, which has two other pantries, to fill a food gap in the Sterling area. Currently providing assistance to those experiencing food insecurity in Loudoun County, the LRO will offer additional services, including emergency rent and utility assistance, adoption services and legal services for immigrants and refugees in the coming months.

“Following its first two months of operation, I am pleased to witness this new food pantry quickly becoming an integral part of the Loudoun community, assisting families across the region at a critical time. Many families are suffering as a result of the ongoing economic impacts of the pandemic, particularly those who were already struggling,” said Bishop Burbidge. “This new pantry is an extension of our unwavering commitment to Our Lord's mandate that we serve those in most need. May God bless and multiply the work that takes place at the Loudoun Regional Office and deepen the faith of all who serve at, or are served through, this beautiful ministry.”

Bishop Burbidge to Participate in Food Pantry Ribbon Cutting and Bless Location

When:

Friday, April 16
3 p.m. (rain or shine)

Where:

Catholic Charities
Loudoun Regional Office
113 Executive Drive, Building 2
Suite 110
Sterling, VA  20166

RSVP:

Interested media, please contact Amber Roseboom, Director of Media Relations, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, at 571-215-8731 or Amber.Roseboom@arlingtondiocese.org.

Stephen Carattini, President and CEO, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, pastors of local Catholic parishes, and volunteers will also participate in the event. The event is by invitation only due to COVID safety protocols and space limitations.

The LRO provides both perishable and non-perishable food to families Mondays through Thursdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Pantry visits are by appointment, via email at LROPantry@ccda.net, to maintain COVID-19 protocols.

The Sterling pantry is one of three Catholic Charities food pantries providing direct food assistance in the Diocese. Donations come from local parishes and the community at large in addition to contributions to Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project. Last year, the St. Lucy Food Project provided 1.3 million pounds of food to the three Catholic Charities pantries and 85 food distribution locations across the 21 counties and seven cities of the Diocese of Arlington.

For more information, visit Catholic Charities here.

For media inquiries, please contact Amber Roseboom, Director of Media Relations, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, at 571-215-8731 or Amber.Roseboom@arlingtondiocese.org.

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The Catholic Diocese of Arlington was established on August 13, 1974, and is home to 71 parishes and more than 460,000 Catholics. There are currently 276 priests serving in the Diocese and 45 seminarians discerning a priestly vocation. The Diocese has 37 parish (K-8) schools, four diocesan high schools, four independent Catholic schools and five free-standing (not connected with a parish school) pre-schools, serving more than 17,000 students. 

The Diocese includes the seven cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester and the 21 counties of Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Northumberland, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren and Westmoreland.