Feeding Neighbors: St. Mark’s, Springfield, VA

In the spring of 2025, Pr. Albert Triolo of San Marcos (St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Springfield, VA) met with Principal Heber Paredes of Lynbrook Elementary School, which is directly across the street from the church. The purpose of the meeting was to consider ways St. Mark’s might help meet the needs of their community. Food insecurity remains the dominant issue to be addressed, and bagging lunches following Sunday services seemed to be a good way to help bring some relief. Each Sunday from September through December, members of St. Mark’s gathered to prepare and distribute sandwiches, fruit, chips, and cookies to the community. Approximately forty to sixty people were fed each week with the weekly cost being over $100 per week. St. Mark’s used funds from the synod’s Feeding Our Neighbors Together grant to help make this happen. Today, the ministry continues in the form of a pizza lunch, and St. Mark’s and Lynbrook remain in dialogue to discern the best ways we might partner to care most effectively for their community’s children and families.