Filling Hungry Stomachs and Hope-Hungry Spirits

God did amazing things through a New and Renewing Mission Table partnership grant that two churches obtained from the synod. On November 1, 2025, Lutheran Church of the Covenant (LCOC) in Dale City, VA partnered with St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Woodbridge, VA to participate in a Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Event.

Pastor Grace Casola of LCOC notes, “because of the generosity of the synod ($2,500), the congregations, and the participants, we raised $8,773.40 ($373.40 more than our goal). This purchased 20,000 meals and 82 people — 22 more than expected, and not just people from the partner congregations— packed the meals over the morning. We later learned that the meals were sent to Timor- Leste off the coast of Australia. At the conclusion of the event, participants were invited to stay and socialize at a pizza lunch, purchased with a grant from Thrivent. This event has energized the community, and we have already been in communication with other community partners who are interested in contributing money and volunteers towards our next scheduled meal packing event on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The Synod grant has filled hungry stomachs in Timor-Leste, and hope-hungry spirits here in Woodbridge, VA!”