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Community Spotlight: Coming Together during COVID-19

4/7/2020

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Life has been moving really fast since the COVID-19 pandemic started --- especially for us at United Community!

​As we rush to provide our neighbors in need with the food, diapers, and resources to help them through this pandemic, we wanted to take a minute to highlight just a few of the amazing community members who have brightened our day these past few weeks! 

Masks of Love

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic started, Lydia Guerrero wanted to do something to help her community. Unfortunately, her health made it difficult to volunteer at the Food Pantry. So when one of our staff members reached out to her, asking for mask donations, she quickly replied "I'll make the masks for you!". 

Lydia spent hours researching the best designs and materials. An experienced quilter, with her own Etsy store, Lydia even made several prototypes  to ensure the masks would protect our staff and volunteers. Finally, she painstakingly wrote a detailed instruction sheet on how to use and care for each mask.
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The masks brought a great deal of comfort to our staff and volunteers during these stressful times.

"When I learned how much time she put into everything, I started to cry," staff member Marcia St. John-Cunning related. "There truly are no words to adequately express our gratitude for the degree of time and care she put into every stitch of every mask she donated to us.

In addition to Lydia's masks, United Community also received a donation of masks from an anonymous donor. Both donations will be used to protect the health and safety of our staff and volunteers while they continue to serve our community.

Food For Neighbors Steps in to Help our Neighbors in Need

Food For Neighbors has been partnering with schools in our area, including Walt Whitman Middle School, for the past year. Based in Reston, Food For Neighbors operates the "Red Bag Program" -- which collects little red food bags from donors' houses to prepare 'weekend bags' so children who depend on Free & Reduced School Meals don't have to go hungry over the weekend.

As soon as Fairfax County Public Schools announced they were closing,  Community Organizer Laura Wainwright quickly mobilized, putting together 400 grab bags using donations she had received and any remaining food from the food pantry at Walt Whitman Middle School. These grab bags were distributed at Walt Whitman, as students came to pick up their laptops for "distance learning".Grab bags were also distributed in the Creekside and Audobon communities. 

"We're so grateful to Food For Neighbors for all that they've done," Walt Whitman Community Schools Coordinator Delia Montecinos shared. "We know that the grab bags are small -- but it meant a lot to our families."

"We Give Because We Should --- Especially Now!"

"Yesterday after the pantry had closed for the day, we heard a ring outside the front door. It was a young high school senior who wanted to make a food donation. He brought along his younger brother to help him deliver their food donation to our pantry.

He was greeted by Cristina (Director of Progreso). Cristina kindly greeted both young men and thanked them for their donation. When she learned that they had several boxes of food she asked me for assistance bringing the food inside.

Because of the social distancing, we could not permit the young men inside the building. So I rolled over an empty grocery cart to the young man. He and his younger brother began to load it up with canned veggies, fruit, cereal, snacks, pasta etc.

When the cart was almost full, Cristina and I expressed our gratitude to them for taking time to donate during these tough times.

The young man explained that he was helping his grandmother who wanted so badly to continue to help families in need of food. He explained because of the severity of the pandemic his grandmother would seriously be risking her life to continue this type of work and service.

"I figured since my brother and I are no longer able to go to school, why not keep busy and lend a hand," he said "I would also make my grandmother very happy!"

I asked him if would he like a donation slip to give to his grandmother.

He kindly declined, "no Ma'am, we do this all the time at our church. My grandmother gives because we should, especially now."

Cristina then asked what church do you attend? With pride the young man responded, "Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church". Cristina and I thanked the young men once again as we pushed the cart full of food inside the pantry.

Torria Baker is the Director of United Community's Early Learning Center. Cristina Schoendorf is the Director of United Community's Progreso Literacy and Citizenship Center. Like many of our amazing staff, Torria and Cristina continue to work hard to help families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please support their efforts by making a donation to United Community's COVID-19 Emergency Fund 
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The Gift of Gratitude during COVID-19

4/3/2020

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​Last week on a cool and rainy morning, a sweet lady that reminded me of my granny, appeared outside at the new "COVID food pantry social distancing outside door".

She stood their with an umbrella in one hand, empty bags tucked under her arm and her United Community food pantry distribution number card in her other hand.

When I saw her I greeted her with a smile. She asked me if I was new here? I told her I was new to helping in the pantry and I worked in another site.

She then said, "You're going to love working here, everyone here is so nice."

She went on to share how attentive, helpful and kind Rogelia -- one of our case-workers --has been to her through her struggles to feed her family. She had a large family. I gave her enough food to feed her family of 5 for a week. She was an elderly lady and would not be able to take all the heavy bags to her car alone. So although I wasn't supposed to, I offered to all her bags to the car. Her face just lit up with the biggest smile!

Stepping out into the cool rain I tried my best to keep my distance, as I helped her load her bags in the car.

As we finished she abruptly asked, " What's your name?" I said, my name is Torria, just like Victoria but without the Vic.

"How do you spell it?" she asked further.

I thought that was an odd question, but I laughed and spelled my name for her. Her next question truly threw me for a loop...

"Can I take your picture?"

Confused, I nodded my head yes. She pulled out her cell phone and said smile and took my picture. I thanked her for coming, turned around and rushed back to the building to get out of the rain. I was almost to the door when she called out, "Will you be here next week?" I told her most likely. She thanked me for helping her with her bags and drove off.

The following week she came back with that same smile and said " good morning Torria, It's so good to see you again sweetie".

I was impressed she remembered my name. I also felt embarrassed that I never asked what her name was. Sheepishly, I told her I was happy to see her as well. I took her number and walked off to get her bags of food.

Although I didn't know her name, I did remember that she had a large family, so I grabbed the appropriate amount of food from the pantry, and went to help her.

As I came to the door way with two large bags of food in hand, she held out a mug and handed it to me. As I took it from her, I noticed it had a picture of me, smiling in the rain. Turning the mug over, I read an inscription on the side was the mug -- "Sipping with Torria".
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For moment, I just stood there in disbelief.  After just one encounter, this sweet lady remembered my name and how to spell it--- without even writing it down. This sweet woman in need of help during these stressful times, took the time to make something for me just because she was grateful for my help. The gesture moved me to tears. 

After a minute, I said "WOW thank you, you didn't have to do that, I'm here to help you, you don't have to give me anything."

​The woman responded, "I bless those who are a blessing to me. Just you being here means so much to me and makes things a little bit easier and for that I am grateful."
Torria Baker is the Director of United Community's Early Learning Center. While she dearly misses seeing the teachers and families at the Early Learning Center everyday, she enjoys bringing smiles to people's faces at our Fordson Road Food Pantry. Like many of our amazing staff, Torria continues to work hard to help families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please support their efforts by making a donation to United Community's COVID-19 Emergency Fund
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