Effective immediately, the House of Mercy is providing free food to federal employees and contract workers affected by the government shutdown that took effect Oct. 1.
The nonprofit humanitarian organization’s offer also extends to all employees affected by recent sequestration, said House of Mercy Assistant Director Ann Cimini. The only proof required to receive free food is an employee identification, she said.
Cimini said her agency wants to lessen the blow of “the recent actions of the federal government, which are impacting hundreds of local employees, especially those who are paid the least amounts.”
Relying on donations, the House of Mercy, which is located at 8170 Flannery Court in Manassas, provides free food and clothing to those in need in the local community. The faith-based organization also has a number of programs and initiatives designed to relieve hunger and to improve the quality of life of local residents and those abroad, Cimini said.
One includes SHARE (Self Help and Resource Exchange), a nonprofit food network that House of Mercy joined this year to offer quality, nutritious food at low cost to local families.
Cimini said that House of Mercy is also a network partner with Capital Area Food Bank™ (CAFB), which acquires and distributes food to those in need in the Washington, D.C., area. CAFB is a member of Feeding America®, a national network of 200 food banks.
According to Feeding America, 51 percent of food-insecure families in Prince William County earn too much to qualify for typical government-funded food assistance, Cimini said. “These people rely upon private nonprofit agencies such as House of Mercy to provide nutritious food to their families,” she stated.
For more information about House of Mercy and how furloughed workers can obtain free food, call 703-659-1636 or email help@houseofmercyva.org.
About the House of Mercy
The House of Mercy is a Catholic-based humanitarian nonprofit organization located in Manassas, Va. Founded by the Missionaries of Our Lady of Divine Mercy, the organization is dedicated to serving the poor, marginalized and forgotten by sharing the message of God’s mercy to others and providing food, clothing and other donated items to those in need. The House of Mercy offers a variety of programs to the community.
About SHARE
SHARE (Self Help and Resource Exchange) is a nonprofit community-building food network dedicated to providing wholesome and nutritious food to families and individuals at a reduced cost. SHARE’s mission also includes promoting volunteer community service and building partnerships with community organizations. The network is sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. SHARE D.C.-Metro serves an average of 12,000 families monthly through a network of 300 volunteer host organizations.
Written by Ann Cimini, Assistant Director for House of Mercy
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