In the Community | Holy Cross Lutheran

Serve - In the Community

The Closet is a nonprofit thrift shop in the heart of historic downtown Herndon, Virginia. Founded in 1974 by a handful of churches to assist low-income families by selling used clothing at nominal prices, The Closet’s mission has expanded to become a significant resource for the greater Herndon area. The shop continues to be a source of low-cost clothing and household necessities for families and individuals on a tight budget and also gives away clothing at no cost to truly needy individuals. Profits from The Closet go to support local community service organizations as well as post-secondary education scholarships for students from local high schools.

HCLC is one of 20 faith-based organizations that manages The Closet. HCLC members volunteer at the shop.

Lunch for the Soul (LFTS)

In the Fall of 2021, Holy Cross joined an on-going ministry called "Lunch for the Soul." Holy Cross provides the site and partners with three other congregations (Trinity Presbyterian, Riverside Church, and Alianza Christiana y Misioneda/Christian Missionary Alliance) to provide a weekly lunch, fellowship, Scripture, and prayer for neighbors in need in our community. Most weeks there are 25-40 gentlemen who join us, depending on the season. Each week, one of the partner congregations takes on the preparation of the lunch and the presentation of the Bible lesson. Since almost all of these neighbors are from Central or South America, the Scripture and study are presented in Spanish.

Lunch for the Soul remains a blessing for our congregation as much as it is a source of community for our neighbors. We'd love to welcome some new hands to help with this caring ministry--whether you buy, cook, serve or cleanup-- ALL help is welcome! If you are interested in being part of this ministry, please contact the office for more information.

LINK Against Hunger

LINK, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that provides emergency food and financial assistance to qualified people in need. Supported primarily by donations of food and funds, LINK is comprised of dedicated churches, organizations, and individuals serving the Herndon, Sterling, and Ashburn, Virginia communities. The all volunteer staff at LINK believe in the power of selfless service and the importance of providing people in crisis with unconditional love. Volunteers deliver emergency food supplies to families in need on a weekly basis. The organization also operates a mobile food pantry and holiday distributions of food, coats, and gifts.

HCLC collects donations of food for LINK on the first and third Sundays of each month, and members of HCLC deliver groceries to recipients on a weekly basis.

We also have a seat on the board of directors.

English Language Learner Program (ELL)

Classes are on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 pm. Students in our basic and intermediate classes work with two books, a student book and a matching workbook. Students in our beginner class use a picture book with daily activities to study English. The picture book helps our beginners to understand words that convey meaning. Students learn to connect the pictures in the book with the words on the page. We create separate lesson plans teaching grammar, sentence structure, and American customs. We also have fun teaching students slang words, expressions and meanings, plus helping them understand idioms.

Herndon Middle School Supply Drive

Each August, we collect school supplies for Herndon Middle School students. The needs are always great - almost two-thirds of Herndon Middle students are economically disadvantaged. In August 2023, our congregation delivered more than $1,700 worth of binders, paper, writing instruments, backpacks, and more. The school staff and students are very grateful for our support! Thank you for your continued generosity and support of our local neighbors!

LAWS - Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter

LAWS Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services is Loudoun County’s designated provider for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and child abuse. We provide free and confidential services, including our 24/7 survivor hotline, advocacy and brief trauma therapy, legal services, and violence prevention programs. LAWS also operates Loudoun County's domestic violence shelter, the Loudoun Child Advocacy Center, and The Resourceful Woman Thrift Store.

HCLC collects items for donation to the domestic violence shelter.

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSS-NCA) Resource Center

The LSS-NCA manages a resource center to provide household items, clothes, and personal care supplies for people who participate in the organization’s programs, including refugee and immigrant services; foster care and adoption services; and the Trafficking Victim Assistance Program.

The Resource Center is in urgent need of the following items: Toothpaste, Deodorant, Shampoo, Soap Bars, Queen Blankets, Toilet paper, Hair Combs, Hair Brushes

Mobile Hope

Mobile Hope provides support and emergency shelter to youth up to age 24 who are at-risk, precariously housed or homeless and empowers them to become self-sufficient and experience improved well-being. Mobile Hope's Listen for the Honk fleet, including our iconic bus, has delivered fresh food, diapers, hygiene items, books, and toys to more than 320,000 family members since March of 2020. Our homeless youth and youth in crisis pitch in, working alongside Mobile Hope staff, corporate volunteers, and elected officials.

HCLC has collected donations of supplies for the organization to distribute to the youth they serve.

Soles4Souls

Here is an opportunity for you to clean out your shoe storage! Instead of sending your old shoes to the landfill, donate them to our shoe drive. Gently used shoes are sent to developing countries, where small business owners sell them for income and their customers receive affordable quality shoes.

Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County

The Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County was begun in Herndon in 2006 to encourage everyone to think more about peace as both a means and an end, and to recognize young people who work as peacemakers. The program grew over time and is now offered to every public high school in Fairfax County. Each school is asked to nominate a student who has demonstrated a desire to bring kindness into the world around them, whether within their schools, their community, or on a larger scale. The students see conflict and injustice and respond with creative problem solving. Recognized students receive a monetary gift and may identify a peace-focused charity for a donation by the organization.

HCLC is a sponsoring organization of the Student Peace Awards, contributing annually to the scholarship fund.