Winners Church will host its annual Free Community Easter Love Meal on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from noon to 2 p.m., in front of the Bank of America at 4001 Graham Park Road in Dumfries.

The event will feature free hot meals from the food truck vendor District Bites. Meals are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and no registration is required.

The initiative began as an extension of the church’s 21-day period of fasting and prayer—a time when members focus on spiritual renewal and service. Motivated by faith and a commitment to meet tangible needs in the community, the program launched with support from church members who helped bring in a professional chef and food truck to serve hot meals directly to neighbors in need.

Over the years, the Easter event has grown into a broader outreach effort, including Thanksgiving grocery and turkey giveaways, serving hundreds of families annually. “What began as a simple meal distribution has become one of our most impactful programs,” said Nana A. Rokosz of Winners Church.

Past events have left a lasting impression on both recipients and volunteers. One single mother shared that the groceries she received during the church’s Thanksgiving event allowed her to afford Christmas gifts for her children. Another memorable story came from a former recipient who returned to volunteer, wanting to give back after being helped in a time of need.

The church partners with local shelters, nonprofit organizations, and low-income housing communities to ensure support reaches those most in need. It also relies on referrals from congregation members and distributes fliers in neighborhoods.

Community members and local businesses are encouraged to participate through volunteer work, food donations, sponsorships, or financial contributions. “Every form of support—big or small—helps us extend our reach,” said Rokosz.

The church acknowledges logistical challenges in executing large-scale food distributions but credits the dedication of its members and growing partnerships for its continued success.

The public is invited to enjoy a warm meal, fellowship, and community love as part of this Easter celebration.

Photo by Karen Z on Unsplash

On Monday, the Manassas City Council unanimously approved Pathway Vineyards Church's request to occupy a historic building upon several conditions.

Council approved the request based on nine conditions, none of which were based on parking, an issue in downtown Manassas. Pathway is anticipating a maximum capacity of 150 people each Sunday and must provide 38 parking spaces if one parking space is granted per four seats in a car. On-site, there are only 22 spaces available.

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Local choirs and performers from Prince William County will gather for a Community Interfaith Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in 14015 Glenkirk Road, Gainesville.

The program will feature music from the Little Zion Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Gainesville High School Ensemble, and the Gainesville Virginia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, among others. Traditional carols and seasonal favorites will be performed.

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From St. George’s Episcopal Church:

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On Friday, August 30, 2024, the parking lot of Winners Church at 17877 Old Triangle Road transformed into a bustling center of health and wellness. Community members gathered for a comprehensive health fair aimed at providing crucial medical screenings and education to the uninsured and underinsured.

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WoodbridgeNaz Church announces the grand reopening of its Food Pantry on August 13 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon and free grocery distribution for clients from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The pantry will be open on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The church invites the community to volunteer and support the initiative.

Press release:

WoodbridgeNaz (a Church of the Nazarene) is pleased to announce the grand reopening of the Woodbridge Nazarene Food Pantry Aug.13 featuring two events.

At noon, community representatives and donors are invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour. Please RSVP at [email protected]

That evening, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., clients will receive free groceries. Thereafter, the pantry will be open the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. On-site registration is required and is provided during distribution hours. No income qualifications are required. The church is located at 14001 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge, Virginia, 22912. The food pantry pavilion is at the rear of the building.

“Re-opening our pantry has been journey built on patience, collaboration, and trusting God. This celebration is a blessing for us and the community we serve,” said the Rev. Pamm Fontana, Senior Pastor. “Isaiah 58:10 teaches us, ‘Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be bright as noon.’ We are grateful for the opportunity to use the resources God has entrusted to us to be a good neighbor to our community.”

The food pantry paused in November 2023 to allow for construction. Prior to the administrative pause, the pantry served more than 20,000 people in the past year. Community members can volunteer to prepare and serve groceries. Contact [email protected] for pantry orientation dates. Potential clients can register for pantry updates in English and Spanish by texting (833) 417-5568.

The pantry is a joint effort between WoodbridgeNaz and Iglesia del Nazareno de Woodbridge. Generous support from surrounding communities helped make it happen. The Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William provided funding for installation of a walk-in cooler and pavilion. Sentara Cares donated to remodeling the kitchen. Capital Area Food Bank and Northern Virginia Food Rescue (and their partners) generously provide food.

WoodbridgeNaz has long partnered with other organizations to be a food distribution site for our zip code, 22192. This area, along with neighboring zip codes 22125, 22193, and 22191, currently have high food insecurity rates.

The church actively serves the community in a variety of ways. A free Clothing Closet is available by appointment. A Community Connection Closet connects new, donated household goods to local non-profits and case workers. Together, these charitable endeavors are called the Community Connection Ministries.

The WoodbridgeNaz Community Connection Ministries mission statement is “Demonstrating the love of God through compassionate commitment to the community one person at a time” which support’s the church’s overall mission statement of making Christ-like disciples in all nations who are real, relevant, and relational.

WoodbridgeNaz was established in Woodbridge, Virginia, in 1966. Members built the current campus on the then-rural Smoketown Road in 1974. For over 55 years WoodbridgeNaz has worshipped Jesus and ministered to the needy and homeless in Prince William County and DC, while supporting the Church of the Nazarene’s ministries in 165 world areas. Church of the Nazarene is a protestant denomination in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. There are over 30,000 Nazarene churches globally with 2.7 million members.

For more information on the pantry and church, call (703) 670-2252; email [email protected]; or visit https://www.woodbridgenaz.com.