Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Winter 2014 Issue | Page 5

response to these tragedies, the pastors’ group put together
a Circle of Faith. Ministers in the county encouraged their
congregations to come together on the first Sunday in
November to pray. This gathering was a powerful witness

of the love and caring of Christians for the well being of our
community, and our belief in the power of God’s love to bring
about positive change.

Joyous, Growing, Inviting and Caring
The Rev. Jenny Montgomery, St. Andrew’s, Arlington
One of the most visible signs of vitality at St. Andrew’s
can be seen in our Plot Against Hunger vegetable
garden. Six years ago, a rather large garden plot was
designated, tilled and planted.

This year we have donated over a ton of food to
the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). All ages from
the church have helped joyfully to plant, weed and harvest our
garden. Volunteers from the community help as well.

Our feeding ministry does not stop with the garden. On
Thursdays, our upper parking lot is used for the distribution of
food from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

Conceived by a mom in our community who wanted
to have fresh produce available to feed her growing
family, this program now has over 100 subscribers.
The CSA also donates fresh produce to AFAC. On Super
Bowl Sunday, St. Andrew’s will again be the host site for
AFAC’s “Empty Bowl” fundraiser.

How do we want to be known in our community? We
want to be known as “that beautiful church on the corner
of Lorcom Lane and Military Road that is joyous, growing,
inviting and caring.”

Backpack Buddies
Fred Williams, St. James’, Leesburg
In Loudoun County, the wealthiest in the nation,
one in six children dies not know where his next
meal will come from, which affects their health,
their academic achievement and the entire school
community. In 2012, St James’, Leesburg, began working
with two local elementary schools to provide weekend meals
for those children.

Each week during the school year, St. James’ receives food
donations and buys food, all in individual-sized portions. The
food is shelved in our pantry, then organized and bagged for
each child. Many volunteers come to our Backpack Buddies
pantry, located in the St. James’ Parish House, week in and
week out to package pudding and fruit cups, stock shelves and
fill bags of food.

In the 18 months from initial planning to today, the St.
James’ Backpack Buddies program has touched, and been
touched by, many in the community. Several faith groups

gave us input on how we might begin to organize
ourselves, and one provided $1,000 worth of
tuna to hel