From its beginning days, Saint James Parish has been a caring community, people helping people, and that caring has continued to grow as the parish continues to grow.
The Social Outreach Committee provides opportunities for parishioners to put into action the Corporal Works of Mercy. Various activities allow you to give either one hour of your time or several days on a periodic basis.
The Social Outreach Coordinators are Karen Bushaw-Newton and Laura Stricker. To see the full list of other coordinators and leads for all the ministries, click here.
Volunteer
Food Distribution
Our monthly, Friday evening Food Distribution serves needy families from 5:30 pm-6:30 pm, on the first Friday of the month. For Food Distribution recipients please do not park in A Lot (by Monsignor Heller Hall), B Lot (Knecht Gym), or C Lot (Behind the school) from 2:30 pm-4:30 pm. Parking before 4:30 pm causes problems for the school and will also hinder food distribution.
Below are a list of food donations we need monthly. Please only donate the items listed and nothing else. As part of this ministry, we also try to include a Christmas family celebration of the Nativity in December.
Adult and teen volunteers are always needed to set up, fill and distribute the bag sets and crates, clean up, and help those who need groceries. There are shifts between 3:30pm-7:00pm. It is also a great opportunity for teens who need service hours.
Also, we are typically in need of fluent Spanish-speaking individuals to help us with registration during each food distribution. Ideally, our Spanish speakers are also fluent in English.
For more information on the Food Distribution program or if you are interested in volunteering in some capacity, contact Karen Bushaw-Newton at [email protected].
To sign up to volunteer for Friday, February 6, 2026, click here or scan the QR code below.
The coordinators of Food Distribution are grateful for its two founders: Janet Qualters (July 23, 1941 – September 22, 2020) and Gay Fantozzi (September 21, 1951 – January 25, 2021) for their work to develop and expand this ministry and inspire us to continue their work today.
Falls Church Homeless Shelter
Saint James’ Social Outreach Committee provides support for the winter hypothermia Falls Church Homeless Shelter located at 217 Gordon Road in Falls Church. The shelter’s mission is to provide shelter, food, and counseling services for 12 adults in need during the winter season. This year, the shelter will open on November 15, 2025, through March 31, 2026. Members of our parish serve on the board and volunteer their time to help the shelter.
How can you support the shelter? In addition to monetary support, parishioners can donate food, personal hygiene items, paper supplies, meals, and their time to work with our residents. Our website, www.fcshelter.org, provides all the information regarding volunteer work and how to sign up for the different opportunities. As in previous years, you have the option to donate your time and spend an evening at the shelter. Volunteers are needed from Thursday to Sunday evenings from 5:30pm to midnight, and will be working hand in hand with the residents and professional staff. Training is provided for those who volunteer.
The website also provides the opportunity to go to the Falls Church Homeless Shelter Amazon Wish list and order items to be delivered directly to the shelter. Church ministries that want to help the shelter are welcome to show their support through volunteer work to prepare for this year’s open season or to share time with our residents by doing crafts, playing cards, and other activities.
If you have questions, email Luis Frontera at [email protected] and put ‘FC Shelter’ in the subject line. Thank you in advance for your continuous support of our shelter!
Falls Church Community Service Council
Annually, Saint James has a food and monetary collection in support of The Falls Church Community Service Council, Inc. (FCS). FCS established in 1969, is a coalition of churches and human service organizations in the greater Falls Church area. St. James Parish is a founding member.
The purpose of the FCS organization is to provide needed human services to poor and disadvantaged individuals and families in the Falls Church community. The assistance primarily is for short term and emergency needs with the overall mission of helping individuals and families achieve self sufficiency, an improved quality of life and avoid homelessness.
Year-round Support
Shelter House/Fair Ridge
Our parish Social Outreach Committee has been partnering with ShelterHouse (https://www.shelterhouse.org/) for years to help the homeless and/or victims of domestic violence.
They can always use our assistance for everyday essential items including hygiene items, formula, diapers, and detergent. If you are able to assist the ShelterHouse/Fair Ridge with their needs, visit their Amazon Wish list below or scan the QR code to the right.
Shelter House relocated to Fair Ridge in late Spring 2025 which allows 85 residences versus 9 in the old location. They can house a much larger number of families who can stay for up to one year. Families are given bed linens and cleaning supplies when they move in. Your support allows families of domestic abuse to be in a safe environment like Fair Ridge. To support this shelter, visit their Amazon link anytime at https://amzn.to/4fnM525 or scan the QR code.
For more information, contact Susan Jackson at [email protected]. Thank you for your support!
Cheer Throughout the Year
Several years ago, the Social Outreach Committee initiated a program to reach out to our parishioners who are not always able to join us at Mass on Sundays.
Four times a year, a committee member visits and brings a little helpful gift. With a prayer and a story or two, the member shares a sense of the parish community.
This is just one of the many ministries that Saint James parishioners are part of and that other parishioners could find helpful. Since the program began, over 200 visits have been made to our parishioners who are not able to easily join us on Sundays. To the right are three of our volunteers getting ready for their summer visits.
Please contact Mary Ann Parker at 703-241-9128 if you or your loved one would like to know more about this program.
Christmas Community Outreach
Advent Season Gift Cards
Once again, Catholic Charities and community homeless shelters have requested gift cards as the easiest way to assist families during the Advent season. This will apply to the refugee families and Food Distribution. In addition, “Adopt A Family” option will be available for Christmas.
The Social Outreach Committee is now collecting gift cards in the suggested amounts of $25 for Walmart, Target, Giant, and Safeway stores. The options for contributing to our Social Outreach Gift Card Project are:
· Donate $25 gift cards.
· Send a check so gift cards can be purchased by the Social Outreach Committee on your behalf.
- Make checks payable to Saint James.
- On the memo line, write SOC gift card donation.
Please place a card or check in an envelope marked Social Outreach Gift Card Project. Place the envelope in the collection basket, hand deliver to the Rectory Office, or mail the envelope to: Saint James Catholic Church, 905 Park Avenue, Falls Church VA 22046.
Thank you for your generosity in bringing joy to families during this difficult time of year. If you have any questions, email Susan Jackson.
Adopt-A-Family
Parishioners can provide much needed holiday cheer by sponsoring a specified family and ensuring they have gifts and a holiday meal for Christmas. Many of these families were previously homeless and needed to conserve their income for rent, food, and other necessities. Names of families in need are provided by social service agencies and by parish networks. Contact: Mary Ann Parker, 703-241-9128.
Focus on Hunger
Food for Others
Food For Others provides food to charitable organizations to restock their food pantries and to families referred to by churches, the county, and other organizations. It runs a daily food distribution outreach program to the community. Food For Others is seeking volunteers to assist in delivering food to two Falls Church sites every Wednesday and Friday of the month. The volunteer job takes approximately two hours once a month from 5:00pm-7:00pm. Volunteers pick up food at the FFO Merrifield warehouse and deliver the food to two sites in Falls Church. During the distribution process, volunteers work with 2-3 other individuals. There are volunteer opportunities both days through the month. Interested individuals can contact Kate Altmeyer at [email protected].
If you are home during the day and are looking for a volunteer activity, call Food for Others at 703-207-9173. Teenagers are also welcomed to volunteer after school or during vacation.
Christ House
As part of the diocesan ministry that provides temporary housing to the homeless and a free evening meal to those in need, Saint James provides and serves a complete dinner to men, women, and children on the second Wednesday of each month at Christ House in Alexandria, a diocesan soup kitchen. Volunteers are needed to cook and/or serve. This is a unique hands-on-experience to directly help those in need. It is an opportunity for families with middle school through high school students to work together. This is also a great project for Scouts. If you would like to help with this parish effort, either in donating food or desserts, cooking the meal at Christ House and/or serving the meal at Christ House, please contact Liz Goodson at 703-532-8407. We are in need of volunteer groups or individuals.