This year LINK, a Herndon and Sterling-area organization, will be helping make the Christmas holiday a happy one for 2,000 children.

The organization's goal is to collect and distribute 4,000 toys to be able to give two toys to each child in need for the Christmas holiday. Volunteers will be on standby on Saturday ready to receive cash donations to go out and shop for more toys through the day.

In addition non-perishable food items are needed to resupply food pantries that were depleted from the Thanksgiving distribution. According to LINK 3,600 people registered to receive five days worth of groceries at Christ the Redeemer in Sterling and Trinity Presbyterian in Herndon.

The annual toy distribution is scheduled for Saturday at Herndon United Methodist Church, while a second food distribution will occur at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church.

LINK's organizers said in a press release they pray the community can help them achieve their goal of 4,000 toys and still need about 20,000 pounds of food for the holiday food drive.

Toy donations will be accepted through Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Herndon United Methodist Church. Volunteers will also be needed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect and sort toys.

LINK will need about 600 volunteers to collect and pre-stage the food and toys at the three area churches. Many volunteers are still needed and the program has volunteers ages 8 through 80 that help participate in the event.

For more information on toy donations, contact Lisa Lombardozzi at 703-973-4444 or Lisa Fagan at 571-331-5626. For more information on volunteering, contact LINK at 703-481-2524.

"LINK strongly believes that assisting those less fortunate with their most basic needs fosters hope and goodwill in our diverse and fast growing community," the organization said in a press release.

LINK says volunteers are also needed to pick up food donations from schools located in the Herndon and Sterling area and drop them off at either Christ the Redeemer or Trinity Presbyterian between Monday, Dec. 13 and Thursday, Dec. 16.

Toys.

Monetary Donations can be sent to: LINK, PO Box 443, Sterling, VA 20167-0443. If donors want the donation dedicated to a certain purpose they can include that in the memo line of the check.

The organization was established in 1972 as an all-volunteer emergency support organization. It includes members of 18 churches in Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Potomac Falls and Chantilly. The organization helps people throughout the year but is well known for its Thanksgiving Holiday Basket Program and its toy drive during the Christmas season.

LINK December Schedule

• Wednesday, Dec. 15 – closed
• Thursday, Dec. 16 - Sorting from 9am–12pm and 7-9pm at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church
• Friday, Dec. 17 – Sorting from 9am until finished at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church
• Saturday, Dec. 18 – Volunteers needed to help restock food, assist families, act as translators, and clean up from 7:30am-4pm at Christ the Redeemer Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church. Additionally, drivers are needed to help deliver food to people who are home bound from 9am-12pm at Trinity Presbyterian Church

 
Contact Information

Holiday Basket Program Coordinator
Lisa Lombardozzi
703-973-4444
LisaLombo@signaturecos.com

Volunteer Coordinator
Diana Lawrence
703-437-4409
Diana@hamiltongroup.com

More information on LINK is available at www.linkagainsthunger.org.