Members and staff of Westminster at Lake Ridge (WLR), a continuing care retirement community, invite local residents to join them in giving to the Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign and the Northern Virginia Family Services local food pantry.
Those interested in donating can bring new, unwrapped toys to the Toys for Tots collection box in the retirement community’s main lobby. The collection box will remain open through Wednesday, Dec. 17.
This marks the sixth year that members and staff at Westminster at Lake Ridge have participated in the Marine Corps drive which distributes toys to deserving children in the immediate vicinity.
Westminster at Lake Ridge volunteers also set up a Gratitude Tree in their lobby as they looked forward to Thanksgiving. According to WLR Chaplain, Dawn Haeger, residents and staff were invited to hang leaves on the tree on which each of them penned what made them grateful.
Non-perishable food items were left under the tree as a giving gesture to others. Two hundred pounds of food were then donated to Operation Turkey. The holiday food drive is a project sponsored by SERVE, the volunteerism campaign of the Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) organization. The non-profit NVFS feeds 800 at risk families monthly.
“This is a very important project to us, and our members volunteer monthly to help SERVE with their important mission to give a hand up to the most vulnerable in our community,” explains Rev. Haeger.
Both toys and non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the Westminster Lobby. Please label food donations ‘Att: Chaplain’ and leave with the receptionist. The continuing care retirement community is located at 12191 Clipper Drive in Lake Ridge. Parking is available in any non-reserved spot in the lot to the left of the main entrance.
Westminster at Lake Ridge strives to set a good example for the community and inspire others to consider toy and food donations during the holiday season. During these cold winter months, it is important to make sure these worthy charities can bring hope to the youngest, the homeless and those who are struggling to feed their families at this special time of the year.
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