Local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon” or “LDS”) are once again answering Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s invitation to join the annual “Day to Serve” event. The annual initiative that started as a one-day blitz of service a few years ago has expanded this year to an entire month of events from Sept. 11 through Oct. 10 in Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
The 5,500 Mormons in the Mount Vernon Virginia Stake — roughly the equivalent of a diocese and comprised of 13 local congregations — have joined seven other participating stakes in Northern Virginia.
The emphasis this year for the Mount Vernon stake is on local food drives, including:
Members in Mount Vernon and Fort Belvoir teaming up with Heritage Presbyterian to do weekend food bags.
Another group partnering with Arlington Regional Transit for a “Stuff the Bus” event.
Members in the Kingstowne/Franconia area joining forces with several different churches to collect food and money for the Koinonia Foundation: Franconia United Methodist, Faith Evangelical Presbyterian, Bush Hill Presbyterian, St. John’s Lutheran, Olivet Episcopal, The Journey (formerly Central Christian Church).
Alexandria members uniting with Giant to collect food, plus a sewing project to benefit developing countries.
Multiple congregations in Alexandria collaborating with the Christ House Food Pantry and Alfred Street Baptist Church.
Shirlington Mormons teaming up with the Arlington Food Assistance Center, Nauck Community Service Center, and Macedonia Baptist Church to collect and distribute food, and to glean apples at a local orchard.
Other local congregations are helping domestic violence shelter the Bethany House, performing a clean-up of the Hume School , and contributing to a community fair in the Franconia / Kingstown area.
The LDS Church has been a major partner in Day to Serve since its inception in 2011.