Providing Sustenance and Sunshine
Herndon Village Network Supports Area Senior Citizens in Many Ways
At the beginning of the pandemic, Herndon Village Network rolled out its new emergency food program. Now in its eighth month, the program continues to provide additional food security and community connection for participating senior citizens at Herndon Harbor House and Kendrick Court Apartments.
“We learned that some seniors unexpectedly found themselves with little to no food when the Herndon Senior Center—and the associated Fairfax County daily lunch program— closed for holidays or inclement weather,” noted Penny Halpern, President of the Herndon Village Network board. “That’s when we decided to offer emergency food deliveries.”
Little did Herndon Village Network know how timely and helpful its new program would be. The first delivery was in March, when the area started to feel the effects of the pandemic, and it’s latest was in October. To date, the local nonprofit has provided senior citizens with four large deliveries of emergency food and related items in bright yellow bags. Groceries provided variously include shelf-stable drinks, oatmeal, fruit, soup, macaroni and cheese, cheese and peanut butter crackers, pudding, jello, toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, handmade face masks, and more.
In addition to providing nutrition, the new program provides a little sunshine during this very stressful time, when many senior citizens are more isolated than ever. Seniors feel “remembered” and “seen”, which is an overall key benefit of being members of Herndon Village Network (HVN). Through the pandemic, HVN has reached out to its members and has also continued its transportation services, for which the nonprofit is best known:
- Private transportation of healthy HVN members to “must do” doctor appointments, pharmacies, and grocery stores; and
- Pickup and delivery of ordered prescriptions and groceries, so that HVN members do not have to go into stores.
Herndon Village Network (HVN) thanks community members for their continued financial and volunteer support. To learn more, please visit https://herndonvillagenetwork.org/.