St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church In Arlington, Va., Contributed More Than 54,735 Pounds Of Food And $205,820 In Emergency Assistance To Nearly 3,000 Families Amidst Pandemic

During National Volunteer Month, Parish Highlights Volunteers Serving the Larger Clarendon Community 

ARLINGTON, Va. - Today, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in the heart of Clarendon in Arlington, Va., announced the impact of its volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of 35 active volunteers and broad support and contributions from parishioners, the parish was able to donate more than 54,735 pounds of food to 2,693 families and more than $205,820 in emergency rental and utility assistance to 224 families. St. Charles is home to 6,000 parishioners, about two thirds of whom are millennials or Gen-Z. Please see the infographic on support to the community here.

“I am deeply grateful for the steadfast commitment of parishioners to supporting those in need throughout the Clarendon area. This past year has been tremendously difficult for many of our neighbors, particularly given the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic,” said Fr. Don Planty, pastor, St. Charles. “To live out our faith in service to those around us is central to who we are as a local parish. We know too that faith is an important component of any thriving community, and we look forward to continuing to grow and serve as an integral part of Clarendon.”

The St. Charles food pantry provides food by delivery and to walk-ins at St. Charles Parish Center at 3304 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22201 every Tuesday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. In addition to relying on the generosity of donors, the parish partners with Arlington Meals on Wheels and local gardeners for pre-packaged meals and fresh produce. Financial donations to the pantry can be made here, or food can be dropped off at the parish chapel entrance.

The parish has 10 outreach ministries which serve the local area, not including support to a sister parish and five schools in Cavaillon, Haiti. Volunteers are invited to help with any outreach effort. Interested individuals should contact Anne Marie Kaufmann, Director of Parish Charities and Social Justice Advocacy, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church at akaufmann@stcharleschurch.org. 

In an effort to serve better the people of the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor, St. Charles has begun the process of a complete redevelopment of its parish site.

For more information, 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.